The Winhawks girls swim team has been a forceful presence in the Big 9 Conference this 2015 season.

Led by Cotter seniors Morgan Whyte and Alex Arnold, the combined Winona Senior High and Cotter girls swim team is looking to go into the second half of their season stronger than ever.

The Winhawks (5-2) have been making waves in the Big 9 Conference, marking down an upset victory against Rochester John Marshal (5-2) on September 10 and a blowout home win against Red Wing (1-5) on September 24.

“We thought some of these meets were gonna be really close,”  head coach Steve Burt said. “Our girls kept pulling away early in the (Red Wing) meet. We swam well, and we competed really well in these last few meets.”

Cotter senior Alex Arnold, who has won the 100 Freestyle for the Winhawks in six of their seven dual meets this season, is hoping to make her first appearance at the state meet in the 50 Freestyle, 100 Freestyle, and the 200 Freestyle Relay.

Alex has been a member of the Winhawks swim team since 7th grade and has frequently swam the 200 Individual Medley for all six years of her high school career. Having a breakout sprinting performance her junior year, Alex has shifted her focus to the 100 Freestyle as well as the 200 IM.

“I’m really hopeful to place in the top three at state in the 100 Freestyle”, said Alex, “I’m still trying to get as close as I can to the 200 Individual Medley school record.”

Whyte competed at the state competition as a freshman in the 200 Medley Relay and as a junior in the 200 Freestyle. Now she is on the hunt for a return visit the the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center to compete with the best swimmers Minnesota has to offer.

Morgan is training to compete at state in the 200 Freestyle, 500 Freestyle, and lead her teammates in the 200 Freestyle Relay.

The girls swim team has been racking up practices at a rate of two a day, but that hasn’t stopped them from traveling north to train with some of the best teams in the state. On September 19 and 20, the team traveled to Richfield to train with teams such as Edina High School, who came second at class 2A state last season.

The ‘Hawks have two remaining dual meets before their conference and section tournaments in November. The girls’ individual performances at the section competition will determine whether or not they will move on to compete at the state meet.