BABBITT – With fans only allowed to watch via live webstreaming, the Northeast Range/Ely girls swim team opened the season last Tuesday with a dual meet against International Falls.
The visiting team won all but two events on their way to a 60-34 win over the Nighthawks.
Morgan McClelland swam to a victory in the 200 freestyle with a time of 2:25.03, outpacing I-Falls’ Kaitlyn Hostetter by 11 seconds (2:36.72).
In the 200 individual medley, Lilly Tedrick, 2:43.94, edged out I-Falls’ Gracie Bowles, 2:45.19 for the win.
McClelland also finished second in the 500 freestyle with a time of 6:57.25. Tedrick took second in the 100 butterfly, 1:14.97. Other individual runner-up finishers for the Nighthawks included Kelly Thompson, 50 freestyle, 30.44, Anna Larson, 100 freestyle, 1:10.07, and Esther Anderson, 100 backstroke, 1:20.31.
The Nighthawks' relay team of McClelland, Cedar Ohlhauser, Aili Bee, and Thompson took second in the 200 freestyle with a time of 2:02.16. In the 400 freestyle relay, Tedrick, Anderson, McClelland and Thompson posted a time of 4:26.31 for second place.
“Our first meet of the season went well,” said first year coach Cherie Debeltz. “We had to adjust to the new way of competing under the MSHSL COVID-19 rules. The girls swam well and we are looking forward to the rest of the season.”
The Nighthawks were set to travel to Mesabi East on Thursday, Sept. 10, and will host Denfeld High School on Thursday, Sept. 17.