Posted: 12/11/02

Boys swimming/diving team still young

Berk Brown
Sports Editor

While the Forest Lake boys swimming and diving team will be young again this year, it should also be better.

At least thatís the opinion of second-year coach Dick Waskey, who expects the improvements his team made all season long last year to carry over to this season.

ìThis year, I think will be even better than last season,î Waskey said.

While the Rangers will rely heavily on its two seniors ñÝBrian Richards and Grant Robinson ñÝForest Lakeís most dominant class in terms of numbers is its juniors. There are 12 juniors on the team. Combined with 19 other underclassmen with surprising potential and the Rangers may be looking at one of their best seasons in a while.

In order to get better, according to Robinson, the Rangers will need to work hard in each practice and also take steps toward becoming a closer team.

ìI would like to see us bond more as a team,î Robinson said. ìNow that everybody can drive, that should make things easier. Last year, only one person could drive and that made things more difficult in terms of getting together.î

Now that last yearís sophomores are a year older, theyíre also a year better ñÝnot to mention able to drive.

Waskey will be able to count on juniors Scott Butler, Sam Chaussee, Brent Cowen, Corey Docken, Chris Duff, John Fahnhorst, Ben Johnson, Scott Schulze, Jeff Sandager, Paul Stocco, Scott Thomas and diving leader Brian Welch.

Among the sophomores on the team are Mark Anderson, Kevin Burk, Zack Clasen, Tom Kelly and Jake Morrison.

Sam Gort, Mike Grothe, Dillon Hudalla, James Kassel, Ian Simpson and Jacob Waskey are all on the team as freshmen.

Eighth-graders on the team include Matt Elden, John Gravanda, Luke Kubitschek, Mark Sandager and Tyler Sperry. Seventh-graders are Tony Johnson, Peter Sandager and Will Walker.

Waskey said heís looking forward to seeing what swimmers will take advantage of opportunities to swim at the varsity level.

Duff, one of the captains along with Robinson and Welch, said he is looking forward to seeing members of the team reach state.

ìIíd like to see some people get to state and for us to win a few meets,î Duff said. ìI think weíre going to compete in the conference a lot better than we have the last few years.î

Welch and the other divers still can not compete at the Southwest Junior High pool since it was deemed unsafe for diving in the fall along with several other pools in the state.

Welch said traveling off-site to practice and compete doesnít make things easier, but he still expects good things from the divers.

ìI donít get to see the guys very much at all,î Welch said. ìI donít know the younger kids any more. Itís a lot tougher.

ì(As a team) weíre going to get a lot of experience this year and weíll really be able to compete next year.î

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