Swimmers, divers head to WDA Championships

BISMARCK – Minot High has won the last two WDA girls' swim-dive championships. Century has eight titles since 2011. Those teams are expected to battle it out for conference supremacy this week in Bismarck. The event provides one more opportunity for swimmers and divers to qualify for the upcoming ND State Championships which will also be held in the capital city. The WDA Meet begins on Friday, Nov. 3 with diving preliminaries at 5:30 p.m.  Diving semifinals start at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, Nov. 4 with the first swim event beginning at 11 a.m. There are 12 events. 

Minot High sophomore Sam VonBokern has the conference's fastest time in seven individual events. She has the state's best time in five of them (50 Free, 100 Free, 500 Free, 100 Butterfly and 200 IM). In the relays, Century has the top time in the 200 and 400 Free; while Williston has the top time in the 200 IM.

Here's a look at the top WDA swimmers-divers in each respective event heading into this week's conference meet.

50 Freestyle: *Sam VonBokern, Minot High, :24.48; Lauryn Caster, Century, :25.11; Braelynn Tofte, Williston, :25.53

100 Freestyle: *S. VonBokern, Minot High, :53.59; L. Caster, Century, :54.85; Lilyana Hochhalter, Legacy, :55.39

200 Freestyle: S. VonBorkern, Minot High, 1:57.65; Tova Bilkre, Legacy, 2:00.54; L. Hochhalter, Legacy, 2:00.75

500 Freestyle: *S. VonBokern, Minot High, 5:20; Madeline VerDouw, Bismarck High, 5:27.59; T.  Bilkre, Legacy, 5:29.37

100 Backstroke: S. VonBokern, Minot High, 1:00.45; T. Bilkre, Legacy, 1:)1.39; Ava Williamson, Minot High, 1:02.89

100 Breaststroke: M. VerDouw, Bismarck High, 1:08.04; L. Caster, Century, 1:08.96; B. Tofte, Williston, 1:10.04

100 Butterfly: *S. VonBokern, Minot High, :59.30; Dru Zander, Williston, 1:00.65; Aryana Twist, Dickinson, 1:03.00

200 IM: *S. VonBokern, Minot High, 2:14.72; A. Williamson, Minot High, 2:17.08; Madyson Tivis, Century, 2:18.77

1M Diving: *Haley Conklin, Minot High, 308.75; Ella Kesler, Minot High, 274.10; Gracyn Bergan, Minot High, 226.15

200 Free Relay: *Century, 1:42.98 (L. Caster, Ava Erickson, Abby Jablonskey, M. Tivis); Minot High, 1:43.36 (Gabby Osborn, Emily Dunstan, S. VonBokern, Reese Goodman); Williston, 1:44.04 (D. Zander, Kearyn Woodward, Anika Grunenwald, B. Tofte)

200 IM Relay: *Williston, 1:54.67 (Kara Hansen, B. Tofte, D. Zander, A. Grunenwald); Minot High, 1:55.34 (A. Williamson, Havanna Metzger, S. VonBokern, Bostyn Edwards); Century, 1:55.75 (Kylie Duchsherer, M. Tivis, A. Jablonskey, L. Caster)

400 Free Relay: *Century, 3:43.85 (L. Caster, A. Erickson, Sienna Mrachek, M. Tivis); Minot High, 3:45.32 (A. Williamson, Emily Duncan, R. Goodman, S. VonBokern); Legacy, 3:45.37 (L. Hochhalter, Brinley Steele, T. Bilkre, A. Erickson)

*Top time in the state (Oct. 25)