John Marshall nipped Mayo to capture the Section 1AA swimming and diving title on Saturday, but both teams had a stellar day in terms of sending swimmers to state.
The Rockets won their fourth straight section title by edging Mayo 381-374 as the outcome wasn't decided until the final event.
"They all swam great," said John Marshall coach Paul Bachman, who was named the section coach of the year.
"It was really exciting, that's what we've been working every day to do," John Marshall junior Allison Schumacher said of the section victory. "It all paid off."
Schumacher was named the swimmer of the meet. She won the 50-yard freestyle and the 100 butterfly in a meet-record time of 56.10. She defended her section title in both events.
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She had set the meet record in the 100 butterfly in the preliminary round on Thursday and was able to go faster still on Saturday to lower the record.
"I just wanted to go out and improve my time and go faster," she said of Saturday's butterfly. "Getting the record was a bonus."
She was also a member of the 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays teams that earned state berths.
"Allison had a great meet," Bachman said.
Schumacher, a junior, was most thrilled by her butterfly performance.
"I just started swimming that last year as my main event and I like it best," she said.
The Rockets turned in a number of other strong performances. JM earned state berths in nine of the 12 events.
Sophomore Taylor Bass had the only other individual win. She captured the 200 individual medley in 2:08.18.
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"That was a huge goal of mine," Bass said. "To go out and help the team, that means a lot."
Bass earned three other state berths. She was second in the 100 backstroke. She teamed with Schumacher, Lauren Kalwasinski and Madison Emery for JM's other win, in the 200 freestyle relay. Bass joined Taylor Emery, Anna Becker and Madison Emery on the 400 freestyle relay that placed fourth and earned a state berth on time standard. It was the fourth-place finish in the final event that also assured a section title for the Rockets.
"Coming together as a group is always what we're trying to do," Bass said. "We're motivating each other."
Freshman Madison Emery was a third JM swimmer to earn four state berths. She was on a pair of relays and also finished second in the 500 freestyle and third in the 200 freestyle.
Kalwasinski, a junior, earned an individual berth in the 100 backstroke and two relay berths. Aside from the 200 freestyle relay, she joined Schumacher, Taylor Emery and Becker on the 200 medley relay to earn a state berth.
Overall the Rockets had six different swimmers earn state berths and all are underclassmen.
"We're really excited," Bass said.
The state meet will be this Thursday-Saturday at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center.
