Prep athletes of the week: Hutchinson's Lexi Kucera leads swimmers past No. 1 Visitation

Hutchinson • swimming

Kucera might only be a sophomore, but she knows how to rise to the occasion in key situations.

She had a hand in three first-place finishes in the final seven events as the Class 1A, No. 2 Tigers overcame a 12-point deficit to defeat top-ranked and four-time defending state champion Visitation 99-87 in a dual meet.

Kucera won the 100-yard freestyle in 52.71 seconds before anchoring the victorious 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams. She was the runner-up in the 100 and 200 freestyle in the state meet a year ago.

"Lexi was instrumental in the win," Hutchinson coach Rory Fairbanks said. "She won in dominating fashion [over a second] in the 100 freestyle. She has proved herself to be a tremendous leader in and out of the pool."

Her split was 24.22 seconds in the 200 freestyle relay and 52.25 in the 400 freestyle relay, the meet's final event.

"Lexi has been steadily improving over the past two seasons," Fairbanks said. "She has been amazing."

The senior running back/linebacker did it all for the Scots in a 40-21 victory over Fridley. He carried the ball 18 times for 334 yards and six touchdowns, and registered 12 tackles and recovered a fumble on defense. "An incredible performance," Scots coach David Zeitchick said.

Bloomington Jefferson • cross-country

In her first race of the season, the senior won the Luther All-American Invitational in Decorah, Iowa. She covered the 5-kilometer course in 18 minutes, 46.3 seconds. "She had the confidence to run her race, and use her speed at the end," Jaguars coach Sean Faulk said.

Orono • soccer

The senior captain celebrated his birthday scoring goals — 10 in all — for an entire week. Mohs scored five goals in the Spartans' 12-0 victory over Hutchinson, three in a 5-0 victory over Waconia and two more in a 3-0 shutout of Benilde-St. Margaret's.

Juhnke was vital in leading the Class 3A, No. 2-ranked Panthers to the Molten Southwest Minnesota Challenge title in Marshall. In a 25-18, 25-12 victory over Lake­ville South in the final, the junior outside hitter had 14 kills (hitting .448), while adding a service ace, five digs and two block assists.

Bloomington Kennedy • cross-country

The junior learned how to be patient at a meet earlier this season, and it paid off in the Faribault Invitational. He posted a winning time of 16 minutes, 40 seconds over the 5,000-meter course.

LOLI FIDLER

Edina • soccer

RON HAGGSTROM