Krakens set new club and personal records for the new year

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – The Krakens Swim Club traveled to the Prairie River Middle School in Merrill on Dec. 20 to compete in the NLAC invitational. Thirty-one swimmers represented Rapids with a dozen first place wins and 29 personal records.
“The team was looking to finish the year with a strong showing going into the holidays and they did just that,” said Head Coach Dave Kontz.
First place winners started with Addison Borek winning in the 100-yard Freestyle with a new club record. She also won the 50-yard Butterfly, and a second place in the 50-yard Breaststroke. Kyndel Borek won the 200-yard Breaststroke. Kyndel also took second in the 100-yard Breaststroke and third in the 100-yard Individual Medley. Tretton Delaney was unstoppable with wins in the 50-yard Freestyle, 50-yard Butterfly, 100-yard Freestyle and 100-yard Breaststroke. Anna Gumz won the 25-yard Freestyle. Gumz also finished second in the 25-yard Backstroke. Vivian Zacher won the 500-yard Freestyle. Zacher also placed fifth in the 50-yard Freestyle.
Second place wins began with James Berg in the 50-yard Freestyle. Berg also finished fourth in the 25-yard Freestyle and 25-yard Backstroke. Joey Doebereiner placed second in the 100-yard Backstroke. Joey also finished third in the 50-yard Backstroke and fifth in the 100-yard Freestyle, and set a PR in the 50-yard Freestyle. Mya Marquard got second in both the 100-yard Individual Medley and 100-yard Backstroke. Marquad also finished third in the 200-yard Backstroke. Finally, Brody Slabosheski finished second in the 50-yard Backstroke with a PR. Brody also finished fourth in the 50-yard Freestyle with a PR.
The third place winners include Chasten Delaney in the 100-yard Freestyle — Delaney had a pair of fourth places in the 50-yard and 100-yard Breaststroke. Aubrey Knoll took third in the 100-yard Backstroke. Knoll also finished sixth in the 50-yard Backstroke.

Fourth place finishers were Noah Grosskopf in the 100-yard Freestyle, Payton in the 100-yard Backstroke, Gavin Bernette in the 100-yard Backstroke and Janessa Rucinski in the 50-yard Breaststroke.
Personal records were set by Bragg, Michael Berg, Wyatt Hamilton, Emma Kay, Kenna Anderson, Emily Beckett, Kali Bernette, Ryan Besasie, Erin Self, Savannah Self, Estella Spees, Kylah Ward and Rhiannon Zabawa.

2026 season opener

The Wisconsin Rapids Swim Club ended the winter break and started the new year on Jan. 3 with the North Lake Aquatic Club invitational in Minocqua. The swim meet was held at Lakeland High School and hosted by the Lakeland Loons.
“It was a very cold and snowy weekend for a swim meet,” said Head Coach Dave Kontz. “We have a group of dedicated parents and swimmers that continue to support the team. I was most impressed by the number of new swimmers that are beginning to place in the top six. This is the third year of the Kraken and many of our swimmers have been with us for less than a year.”

Kyndel Borek placed first in the 200-yard Breaststroke. Kyndel also placed fourth in the 100-yard Breaststroke and sixth place in the 100-yard Individual Medley. Joey Doebereiner placed first in the 50-yard and 100-yard Backstroke. Joey also got second place in the 50 and 100-yard Freestyle. Anna Gumz placed first in the 25-yard Freestyle, with a new club record, and 25-yard Breaststroke. Anna also placed second in the 25-yard Backstroke, and 100-yard Individual Medley. Mya Marquard won the 200-yard Backstroke and second place in the 100-yard Freestyle. Mya also placed third in the 100-yard Individual Medley and fifth place in the 50-yard Freestyle.
Second places were Noah Grosskopf scoring a second in the 200-yard Freestyle and a fourth place in the 100-yard Backstroke. Mackenzie Miloch placed second in the 200-yard Individual Medley and sixth in the 50-yard Butterfly. Brody Slabosheski finished in second place and personal record times in the 50-yard Backstroke and fourth in the 25-yard Backstroke. Finally, Vivian Zacher scored a second place in the 100-yard Freestyle. Vivian also finished third in the 50-yard Freestyle, with a new club record, and 50-yard Butterfly.
Finally, other top finishers included Willow Devine placed fifth in the 100-yard Individual Medley. Cora Bragg finished sixth, with a personal record, in the 200-yard Freestyle. Aubrey Knoll placed sixth in the 100-yard Backstroke.
The medley relay for the Krakens’ age group of girls finished fourth placed in the medley relay and sixth in the freestyle relay. Swimming for Rapids in the medley was Rhianna Zabawa, Emma Kay and Stella Spees. The freestyle relay was Rhianna Zabawa, Emma Kay, Kensi Lercher and Stella Spees. The middle school girls placed fourth in the medley relay and second in the freestyle relay. Swimming for Rapids in the medley was Vivian Zacher, Mya Marquard, Mackenzie Miloch and Willow Devine. The freestyle relay was Vivian Zacher, Kyndel Borek, Mackenzie Miloch and Willow Devine.
The Kraken always honors those swimmers that continue to improve each week. Swimmers with new personal records as of 2026 include Ryan Besaise, Willow Devine, Emma Kay, Emma Knoll, Kensi Lercher, Stella Spees and Rhiannon Zabawa.