HASA shines at U of M pool

The Hudson Area Swim Association (HASA) recently placed fifth in the “A” Division at the Long Course State Championships at the University of Minnesota.

In the meet Matt Baker, 12, dropped times in eight different events and Grace Johnson, 8, dropped 2.4 seconds in her 50 meter backstroke and moved up 12 places from her seed time.

Maria Blinkman, 12, dropped time in all three of the events that she qualified for, and obtained a Zone qualifying time in the 100 freestyle. Rachel Baker, 10, swam the 50 meter butterfly and ended up dropping another half a second to finish 27th.

Shane and Cale Blinkman combined to win all of the 9-10 year old individual events. Cale took first in the 50 meter breaststroke and 50 meter backstroke, while Shane took first in the 200 freestyle, 200 individual medley, 100 butterfly, 50 butterfly, 100 backstroke, 100 breaststroke, 50 freestyle, and 100 freestyle. As a result Shane won the 9-10 High Point Award for the Long Course State Championships.

Adam Berdusco, 8, placed in all five events that he competed in, with a ninth place finish in the 50 meter breaststroke.

Berdusco also joined up with the Alex Weaver, Shane Blinkman, and Cale Blinkman to provide a strong representation on the 10 and Under relays. With a 6th place finish in the 200 medley relay and a seventh place finish in the 200 freestyle relay, HASA edged out Edina to claim high points for the 9-10 age group, by 8.5 points.

The 11-12 400 meter medley relay, comprised of Ezra Madsen, Jacob Miller, Matt Baker, and Elliot Wareham, took 18th place, and the 11-12 200 medley relay of Wareham, Miller, Baker, and Cole Groehler took 22nd place.

In the 11-12 200 and 400 freestyle relays, Baker, Miller, Wareham, and Groehler finished 22nd and 23rd, respectively.

For the 10 and under girls 200 medley relay, Jasmine White, Sydney Glampe, Rachel Baker, and Sam Troyer took 37th place; and the 10 and under girls 200 freestyle, Baker, White, Troyer, and Grace Johnson took 40th place.

Combined, HASA swimmers dropped time in 36 of their combined 41 races.

HASA is the feeder club for the Hudson High School boys and girls swim teams, and practices at the Hudson Middle School. Registration for the fall season is Aug. 30 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the middle school cafeteria. For more information visit www.hudsonswimteam.org.

Tags: sports, swimming, hudson