Team of the Week: Stillwater girls swimming/diving

The Stillwater High School girls swimming and diving team made quite a splash Saturday at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center, claiming its third Class AA state championship in four years. The Ponies won five of 12 events, with four of the victories marking All-America times and breaking all-time state records. The secret ingredient in all four milestones was sophomore Hannah Bowen, who set individual state records in the 50 freestyle (22.73) and 100 freestyle (49.78), while anchoring her team's 400 and 200 freestyle relay teams' record-breaking times of 3:26.09 and 1:35.53, respectively. Stillwater's team of Bowen, Betsy Galenti, Torie Buberl and Monica Radecke tied Lakeville South for the new 200 freestyle state record. Bowen was joined by her sister, Jordan Bowen, Kaela Anderson and Galenti in the record-setting 400 freestyle team. Ponies junior Maggie Kiefer won the 1-meter diving competition with a score of 493.55, propelling the Ponies (290) ahead of second-place Edina (234.5). Other Stillwater top finishers: Jordan Bowen took third in the 200 freestyle (1:49.85) and third in the 500 freestyle (4:54.50). Galenti (52.49), Buberl (52.77) and Radecke (53.22) took sixth, seventh and eighth, respectively, in the 100 freestyle. Mady Gockowski took sixth in the 100 breaststroke (1:06.50). Kaela Anderson took third in the 200 IM (2:04.46). Team of the week honorable mention: Visitation Visitation won its fourth straight state Class A title Saturday, scoring 268 points, 71 more than Monticello. The Beacons are the first team since Virginia's 12 straight titles (1930-1941) to win four straight Minnesota state swimming and diving championships. Visitation swimmers set four records at the state meet.