By Jim Rueda
Free Press Sports Editor
MANKATO —
Senior Grace Benzkofer has been a three-sport athlete for Mankato East since eighth grade so she’s experienced her fair share of big games and meets.
On Thursday at the East pool, Benzkofer and her teammates accomplished something that hadn’t been done since 1992. They won a Big Nine Conference meet, besting Rochester Mayo 91-87.
Benzkofer, a team tri-captain, did not mince words: “This is the best feeling I’ve ever had in sports,” she said, shortly after celebrating with her teammates. “This is such a great group of swimmers I knew we could pull it off.”
The Cougars were expecting a tight meet with Mayo, but it really wasn’t. They built a 22-8 lead after two events, a 51-27 lead after five and a 91-49 advantage before swimming exhibition in the final three events.
Head coach Tim Johnson said things began to go right for his team in the first event.
“We started strong in the (200-yard) medley relay and just kept going,” he said. “It was a great effort by our girls, they worked hard for it.”
Benzkofer was part of three winning relays. She combined with Erin Connell, Chandra Bouma and Abby Connell for a winning time of 2:02.87 in the medley relay, joined with Bouma, Allison Ellstrom and Maren Peterson to win the 200-free relay (5:50.28) and paired up with Megan Helms, Abby Connell and Peterson for the fastest time in the 400-free relay (4:06.95).
Abby Connell had a monster day. In addition to two relay wins, she captured the 50-freestyle in 27.50 and 100-freestyle in 59.91.
“Abby had a great meet for us,” Johnson said. “She swam well in all of her events. Allison Ellstrom was also strong for us, getting lifetime bests in the 200- and 500-freestyles.”
Ellstrom was first in the 200-free (2:17.24) and third in the 500-free (6:08.20). Maren Peterson won the 500-free in 5:50.28, and teammate Kali Schlingmann was the top diver with 190.30 points.
Like Benzkofer, Schlingmann said getting the win was special.
“I’m honored to be part of the team that accomplished this,” she said. “We talked about it this week, and we’ve been getting great leadership from our captains. We just came out fired up and made it happen.”
The Cougars (1-1) are back in action Thursday when they take on crosstown rival Mankato West at the Minnesota State pool. Starting time is 7 p.m.
