News Photo by Leslianne Johns Lucy Duthler swims the backstroke while competing against Oscoda in Alpena on Thursday.

ALPENA — The Alpena Wildcats Girls Swim Team put together a commanding performance on Wednesday, defeating the Oscoda Owls 118-51 in a meet filled with both athletic success and heartfelt community spirit.

The evening carried special meaning as the Wildcats dedicated the meet to Down Syndrome Awareness in honor of teammate Maddox McClintic. The entire Alpena team wore blue shirts to show their support, while members of the Wildcats football and volleyball teams joined the crowd in a show of solidarity.

“As a coach, it is so rewarding to see how much support the team, parents, and community members displayed,” said head coach Jennifer Johnson.

In the pool, Alpena’s swimmers delivered an outstanding performance across multiple events. Team captain Elizabeth Rabbideau led the charge with first-place finishes in both the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard backstroke. Freshman Brynn Beatty continued to impress, earning first place and setting personal records in the 200-yard individual medley and 100-yard freestyle.

Captain Tryst Bukowiecki took first in the 100-yard butterfly and second in the 500-yard freestyle, while freshman Penelope Conboy secured first in the 100-yard breaststroke and second in the 200-yard IM.

Other standout performances included sophomore Haley Stenz, who placed second in the 100-yard freestyle and third in the 50-yard freestyle, and freshman Jacquelyn Frantz, who earned third in the 200-yard freestyle and second in the 100-yard breaststroke. Junior Gabriella Tolan also had a strong showing, finishing third and setting personal records in both the 200-yard IM and 100-yard breaststroke.

Additional personal records came from Hailey Diemond in the 200-yard freestyle, Annette Fairchild, Emma Darga, Arabella Nunez, and Madelyn Farley in the 50-yard freestyle, Lucy Duthler in the 100-yard butterfly, and Jazmyne Westfall in the 100-yard backstroke.

The Wildcats will return to the Plaza Pool on Tuesday at 5 p.m. to face Alma in their final home meet of the season, where the team will honor its seniors.