Bemidji HS girls swimming: Gilbertson and Frey lead team in meet

It was déjà vu for the Bemidji High swim team Tuesday night.

Last year, Brainerd handed Bemidji its only dual meet loss in 10 starts 107-79 at Brainerd.

This year, Bemidji had hopes of cutting into that margin and perhaps challenging the Warriors.

But in the end, Brainerd won again 107-79.

But it was a more competitive meet with Bemidji hanging close in virtually every event, winning four.

But it was able to outscore the Warriors only in the 200 free relay and breaststroke with Brainerd out scoring Bemidji 9-7 in four events and 8-6 in a fifth to gradually widen the lead throughout the meet.

Selina Gilbertson and freshman Stephanie Frey led Bemidji.

Gilbertson, last year's point leader, won the IM and led off the 200 free relay while taking second in the 100 free and anchoring the second place 400 relay unit.

Frey won the 50 and breaststroke and swam on the medley and 200 free relays.

Bemidji never led as Brainerd went 1-3 in the medley and 1-2-5 in the 200 free for a 20-10 lead. The Warriors gradually built the lead to 65-50 before Bemidji went 1-3 in the 200 free relay and 91-65 before it went 1-4-5 in the breaststroke.

Looking toward the future, things seemed brighter with a 103-71 Bemidji win in the JV meet sweeping all three relays and winning four individual events while piling up points steadily on depth throughout the meet. Katie Krause took the 50 and fly, Haley Erickson led in diving and Clare Lawrence won the 500.

Ashlin Hasson, Mackenzie Timms, Kirsten Sharpe and Tayler McLean took the medley, Hasson, Timms, Jamie Vanasse and Bethany Scholl the 200 free and Vanasse, Hannah Sweep, Lawrence and Lexie Hendricks the 400.

Next for Woody Leindecker's swimmers will be the Bemidji Invitational Sept. 12.