Flyers' showing is one for the books

Led by freshman Whitney Weisz, the Little Falls Flyers had one of the most successful showings in program history in the Class 1A state swimming finals Saturday at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center.

Weisz finished fourth in the 200-yard freestyle and 12th in the 100 free. She helped the Flyers' 200 free relay to sixth place and the 400 free relay to 11th.

"Whitney had to swim four events," Flyers coach Tim Corbett said. "Next time she will be much more ready for what happens. She did swim last year at state, but she swam two relays. This time she swam a full slate of events."

Weisz was clocked in a school-record 1:58.28 in the 200 free. She finished behind Meghan Weiss of Centennial (1:52.04), Marissa Wood of Sartell (1:54.07) and Alissa Tinklenberg of Willmar (1:57.89).

Highlights: Whitney Weisz of Little Falls was fourth in the 200 free, the Flyers' 200 free relay was sixth in the state meet.

"Whitney was well behind most of the swimmers at the halfway point," Corbett said, "but like I tell the girls, they don't give out medals to who's ahead at the halfway point.

"She passed at least three girls in the second half of the race to take fourth. She really swam a good, smart race. She fought hard the second half.

"With Meghan, Marissa and Alissa ahead of her, I'm proud of Whitney, in a field like that, for finishing fourth."

Teammate Molly Binger finished two spots ahead of Weisz in the 100 free. Binger was 10th at 54.76. Weisz was 12th at 55.02.

"Molly came back strong," Corbett said. "She moved up several places in the consolation finals. I think she was seeded third-slowest in that heat and she took second (in the heat). That's a very good finish for Molly in the last individual race of her career."

Joining Weisz and Binger on the Flyers' 200 free relay were Megan Voss and Brittany Then.

Weisz, Voss, Carlee Davich and Binger finished 11th in the 400 free relay.

"They were able to move up a couple places in the finals," Corbett said. "They weren't seeded to take third in the consolation finals. Molly had a strong final leg of her last swim. Carlee had a nice time in her last race for a first-time entrant at the state meet."

Class 1A finals

200 freestyle: 1-Meghan Weiss, Visitation, 1:52.04. 4, Whitney Weisz, Little Falls, 1:58.28.

100 freestyle: 1, Meghan Weiss, Visitation, 51.17; 10, Molly Binger, Little Falls, 54.76. 12, Whitney Weisz, Little Falls, 55.02.

200 free relay: 1-Sartell 1:37.63; 6, Little Falls (Whitney Weisz, Megan Voss, Brittany Then, Molly Binger) 1:41.03.

400 free relay: 1-Visitation 3:34.97; 11-Little Falls (Whitney Weisz, Megan Voss, Carlee Davich, Molly Binger) 3:45.32.

MIKE BIALKA may be reached at mike.bialka@brainerddispatch.com or at 855-5861.