Bulldogs looking to end Munster’s sectional title streak

CROWN POINT— It’s been seven years since Crown Point has celebrated a girls swimming sectional championship. It’s also been 26 years since the Munster girls have not won a sectional title. But if Thursday’s Crown Point sectional preliminaries are any indication, keeping those streaks alive will present some high drama. Credit Bulldogs junior Aly Tetzloff for any optimism going into Saturday’s sectional finals after she had a hand in winning three events Thursday night, including the 200 IM, 100 butterfly, and swimming a leg in the victorious 200 medley relay. “I did pretty decent. I added time from my personal best, but Saturday is sectionals and I hope I improve,” Tetzloff said. “For us to win sectionals would be tremendous because we’ve worked toward this the entire season. It’s going to be a close meet, there’s going to be some fast swimmers here on Saturday. I just hope we pull through and win.” For that to happen, Crown Point will need results like it got Thursday night. Outside of Tetzloff’s performance, freshman Hannah Kukurugya was a 200 and 500 freestyle winner, along with helping out with the 200 medley gold. Rachel Bukowski won the 200 free and was a double relay winner along with Kelsi Artim. Holly Shuster was a winner in the 100 breastroke for the Bulldogs “We swam good today. We put ourselves in position to race Munster for the title,” said Bulldogs coach Byron Angerman. “It was good winning sectionals back then (2008)and I think these girls have enough talent and have worked hard enough to win this sectional as well.” In trying to keep the state’s third longest sectional title streak alive, the Mustangs got a first place from Mary Beth Blocher in the 50 freestyle. “We had some best times in certain areas. We knew coming into it thatwe had to get as many top-eight finishes as we could to combat what Crown Point has in every race,” Munster coach Matt Pavlovich said. “It will be interesting to see how it all plays out.” Highland’s Jacklyn Smailis was a winner in the 100 backstroke. Lake Central’s Victoria Springman was tops in the 100 free, while teammate Kallie Higgins was first in diving.