Huron’s swimming & diving team celebrates Senior Night

By Margaret Baker / For WLAA

The River Rats played host to Skyline last week for Senior Night at the Ratatorium.  The Eagles won 104-81, but the Rats took six events at this celebratory evening.  Kudos to senior Sophia Riegle, Huron’s lone diver on the evening, who dove for a personal best of 125.10!

Huron’s crowning moment was the 100 Breast, where they finished 1,2,3 with sophomore Jasmine Xu leading the pack (1:09.01), senior/captain Emma Kaipainen, 2nd (1:12.49) and senior Ayaka Sakamoto, 3rd (1:15.22).

Other event winners for Huron included Kaipainen in the 200 IM (2:17.29); senior/captain Zannah Baker in the 50 Free (25.14); sophomore Jasmine Xu in the 100 Free (55.08); and sophomore Sawako Sakamoto in the 100 Back (1:02.53).

The 200 Free relay squad of Baker, S. Sakamoto, Kaipainen and Xu also pulled out a win (1:42.68) one second ahead of Skyline’s “A,” Allie Deininger, Lily Cleason, Shannen Lee, and Marin Heusel (1:43.79) while the Rats’ 200 Medley relay (S. Sakamoto, Kaipainen, Xu and Baker) gave back that second and finished 2nd in 1:54.58 behind Skyline’s Cleason, Ava Dawson, Claire Kozma, and Lee (1:53.57).

Other point scorers for Huron included senior Kathryn Hemmila in the 200 Free (3rd; 2:03.96) and the 500 Free (also 3rd; 5:39.08); sophomore Ece Uyulur in the 200 Free (4th; 2:12.81) and the 500 Free (also 4th; 5:55.82); S. Sakamoto in the 200 IM (2nd; 2:19.10); senior Felicia Sang  in the 50 Free (5th; 30.85); senior/captain Cali Streeter in the 100 Fly (4th; 1:11.26); A. Sakamoto in the 100 Fly (5th; 1:15.31); Baker in the 100 Free (4th; 56.83); senior/captain Ezgi Poyraz in the 500 Free (5th; 6:04.53); senior Margo Leone in the 100 Back (4th; 1:14.69); sophomore Shayla Pawlicki in the 100 Back (5th; 1:15.30). Finally, Hemmila, Pawlicki, Poyraz and Uyulur finished in a comfortable 2nd in the 400 Free Relay (4:10.47).

Huron announced their 13 seniors in a ceremony with new Huron principal Mr. Che’ Carter in attendance.  Congratulations to all the graduating girls:  Sara Abdul Hak, Baker, Lydia Hargett, Hemmila, Kaipainen, Leone, Poyraz, Riegle, A. Sakamoto, Sang, Streeter, Alli Sutton, and diver Maggie Thomas.  

Huron will host their last regular season meet next Thursday, Oct. 21 against Bedford.

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