State swimming: Denzer hoping to improve on last state effort
Nov. 15—Hannah Denzer is happy to get back to the state meet for the third, and final, time, but she's more excited to have more teammates along.
"It's kind of sad because this will be my last one," the St. Peter senior said. "But I'm glad I get to bring more people with me."
The Class A girls swimming and diving meet begins Thursday at the University of Minnesota. Denzer will compete in two events, and she'll join Sarah Coe, Trista Landsom and Adela Madson to compete in the 400-yard freestyle relay. St. Peter diver Laura Klatt also qualified for the state meet.
Denzer won the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle at the Section 1A championships on Saturday, setting pool records in both events. Those times were both close to personal bests.
"It was really cool to take home the medals and get up to the top of the podium in my last year," she said.
Denzer finished second in the 200 freestyle and seventh in the 500 freestyle at the state meet last year. She gave up track as a spring sport two years ago so she could concentrate on swimming, and she's hoping to swim in college next year, either at Minnesota State or the University of Minnesota.
"I'd like to drop time in both events," Denzer said. "I'm hoping for a good placing again. I think it's going to be super exciting to get back to the (University of Minnesota pool). I love it up there."
Mankato West's Olivia Leonard will be competing in the 200 individual medley, 100 breaststroke and two relays. She placed fourth in the 200 IM last year.
West's 200 medley relay team of Leonard, Catherine Bittner, Ella Lee and Lucy Vogt will compete at the state meet after placing seventh last year. The foursome of Lee, Jordan Woodford, Vogt and Leonard qualified for the state meet in the 400 freestyle relay. Lee, Vogt and Leonard were on the relay team that finished ninth at the state meet last year.
Lee also qualified for the state meet in the 100 butterfly, and Vogt will compete in the 50 freestyle. Lee placed 14th last year, and Vogt took eighth.
Mankato East's Avery Schuh will be competing in two events. She was the section champion in the 50 freestyle, where she placed 14th at last year's state meet, and she'll also compete in the 100 freestyle.
The 200 freestyle relay team of Cami Schuh, Brittan Hoffman, Emma Born and Avery Schuh qualified for the state meet.
The state meet begins Thursday at the University of Minnesota.
Follow Chad Courrier on Twitter @ChadCourrier.
