Published: September 10, 2008 10:15 am      

Clinton tankers take 101-84 win over West

DAVENPORT — Clinton opened Mississippi Athletic Conference action with a 101-84 victory Tuesday evening in girls swimming at Davenport West.

“I think everybody is working harder now because actually counts in the MAC conference,” Clinton's Rachel Harden said.

One of the highlights, according to coach June Wilden, was a come-from-behind victory in the 200-yard freestyle relay, with freshman Kate Kaster swimming the key anchor leg. Following Katie Spooner, Katie Stanley and Alyssa Erling, Kaster finished off the winning time of 1 minute, 55.20 seconds.

Libby Hess had a part in four wins for the River Queens, while Taylor Rippon and Larissa Wilden were involved in three victories apiece.

Hess won the 200-yard individual medley in 2:21.94 and the 100 breaststroke in 1:12.29, and she teamed with Wilden and Rippon for victories in the 200 medley relay and the 400 freestyle relay. Erling swam the other leg in the 200 medley, while Stanley rounded out the foursome in the 400 freestyle relay.

“Libby Hess had a great night tonight,” June Wilden said. “Katie Stanley swam extremely well. I felt pretty good about that time in the 400 freestyle relay for this point in the season.”

She also was impressed with the third-place finish by her second unit in the 200 medley relay.

“I really improved my time, with a 30.14 split, which is almost two seconds lower than last Tuesday (against Tipton),” said Harden, who swam the anchor freestyle leg. “I feel like I've been working harder in practice and getting faster and stronger.”

Clinton's other wins came from Rippon in the 100 butterfly (1:04.91), Kaster in the 500 freestyle (6:12.94), Larissa Wilden in the 100 backstroke (1:09.93) and Laura Callan in diving. Callan edged teammate Spooner 137.65 points to 133.30 for first place.

“I know I can do better,” Spooner said. “I got two sixes on the forward pike, and I'm real proud of that.”

Clinton (2-0 in duals) returns home for a 6 p.m. meet Thursday against Dubuque Senior.





Clinton 101, Davenport West 84

Results (top three plus other Clinton finishers)

200-yard medley relay - 1. Clinton (Larissa Wilden, Libby Hess, Taylor Rippon, Alyssa Erling) 2:02.40; 2. West (Breanna Aguirre, Abby Abraham, Bailie Koster, Sydne James) 2:26.66; 3. Clinton (Emma Yahn, Breezy Mussman, Katie Spooner, Rachel Harden) 2:29.37.

200 freestyle - 1. Kristi Hanno (W) 2:13.54; 2. Katie Stanley (C) 2:17.39; 3. Kate Kaster (C) 2:19.03.



200 individual medley - 1. Hess (C) 2:21.94; 2. Paige Wolfe (W) 2:24.90; 3. Rippon (C) 2:31.59; 5. Mussman (C) 3:01.32.

50 freestyle - 1. Hailey Kitzman (W) 26.09; 2. Wilden (C) 27.36; 3. Erling (C) 30.30; 6. Meagan Machholz (C) 33.59.

Diving - 1. Laura Callan (C) 137.65; 2. Katie Spooner (C) 133.30; 3. Hailey Clark (W) 118.90; 4. Natasha Kerr (C) 82.55.

100 butterfly - 1. Rippon (C) 1:04.91; 2. Wolfe (W) 1:07.00; 3. Koster (W) 1:21.55; 5. Harden (C) 1:39.20; 6. Yahn (C) 2:00.15.

100 freestyle - 1. Kitzman (W) 58.36; 2. Hanno (W) 58.43; 3. Stanley (C) 1:02.34; 5. Kerr (C) 1:17.70; 6. Taylor Gutierrez (C) 1:30.70.

500 freestyle - 1. Kaster (C) 6:12.94; 2, Kooster (W) 6:23.87; 3, Megan Watson (W) 7:07.24; 5, Breezy Mussman (C) 7:41.61; Kali Parker (C) 8:47.29.

200 freestyle relay - 1. Clinton A (Spooner, Erling, Stanley, Kaster) 1:55.20; 2, West A 1:55.68; 3, West B 1:56.23; 4, Clinton B (Rachel Harden, Nathasha Kerr, Laura Callan, Kali Parker) 2:18.25.

100 backstroke - 1. Wilden (C) 1:09.93; 2, Cherryholmes (W) 1:18.12; 3, Katie Spooner (C) 1:20.22; 6, Emma Yahn (C) 1:38.15.

100 breaststroke - 1. Hess (C) 1:12.29; 2, Alyssa Erling (C) 1:23.96; 4, Callan (C) 1:40.94.

400 freestyle relay - 1. Clinton (Rippon, Stanley, Wilden, Hess) 4:00.87; 2, West A 4:02.83; 4, Clinton B (Kate Kaster, Mussman, Harden, Yahn) 5:04.41.