By Kerry Rodd
Senior captains lead young Lumberjacks team
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Matthew Moses
Julia Peterson starts off for Cloquet's 200-yard medley relay team at home Tuesday against Two Harbors. The Lumberjacks won the meet 106-69.
A young Cloquet-Esko-Carlton girls swim team had the dubious honor of having to open the season against the three toughest teams in Section 7 this season. Starting with Grand Rapids, Proctor-Hermantown and Hibbing was tough, but the Lumberjacks' young swimmers continue to show improvement this season.
"It's been a rebuilding year for us," said CEC coach Rachel Peterson. "We have a lot of young swimmers. It will take a while, but the girls are working hard and doing what they need to do to improve."
CEC's top point scorer this season has been Julia Peterson. The 'Jacks are led by a pair of senior captains: Rylee Demers and Amelia Warren.
"Rylee is our primary butterfly swimmer and now is swimming the backstroke and doing a great job," Peterson said. "Amelia swims the breast stroke and is dropping her times. Both of them are doing a great job as our captains, along with our other seniors who have done a good job of teaching the young kids on what it takes to be good swimmers."
Those seniors include Kloey Jensen, Shelby Zahn, Annalise Kalm and Sophie Herman.
"We have a lot of enthusiasm with this group," said Peterson. "We may not have a lot of experience, but the girls make up for it with their work and their excitement of learning new things."
Matthew Moses
Rylee Demers competes in the 100-yard butterfly event Tuesday in Cloquet.
The Lumberjacks 440-yard freestyle relay team of Nattie Butler, Ailie Laine, Demers and Peterson has a good chance of scoring points in any meet, perhaps including the sectional meet in November.
On Tuesday, the 'Jacks hosted Two Harbors in a meet that - for the first time this season - did not include one of the top teams in the conference. CEC had a solid showing and easily defeated the Agates 106-69.
"We had a good meet," said Peterson. "Many of the younger swimmers really stepped up and had some good times, so that was nice to see."
Next up for the Lumberjacks is a road trip to take on Superior Thursday, Sept. 21, followed by a meet at Denfeld Saturday morning.
