Posted: 3/5/03

Forest Lake divers qualify for state

Berk Brown
Sports Editor

The Forest Lake boys swimming and diving team will be represented at this weekendís state meet by a pair of divers.

Ben Johnson took first place at the Section 7AA meet last week at Elk River in diving and teammate Sam Chaussee was fourth as each qualified for this weekendí state meet at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center.

They were two of four Forest Lake divers to place in the top 10. Brian Welch, who qualified at state last year, missed doing so again as a junior by six points in placing fifth. Dillon Hudalla was 10th.

Deb Welch, who was named the Section 7AA Diving Coach of the Year at the meet, said in the perfect world all four of her divers would have earned the trip to state but sheís happy Chaussee and Johnson will get their first chances at state this year.

ìIím very excited to get them to state,î Welch said. ìThey knew it was something they could do.î
As a team, Forest Lake finished sixth at the meet. Forest Lake head coach Dick Waskey said his team could have done better but several members of the squad ñ including diver Welch ñÝwere fighting illnesses and injuries.

Jeff Sandager was the Rangersí top finisher in a swimming event, placing sixth in the 50 freestyle.

Sam Gort and Grant Robinson finished seventh in the 500 freestyle and 100 breaststroke, respectively, for the Rangers.

Scott Schulze was 10th in the 200 individual medley and ninth in the 100 butterfly while Sandager was 10th in the 100 freestyle, Mark Andersen 10th in the 500 freestyle and Jacob Waskey 16th in the 100 freestyle. Gort was 13th in the 200 freestyle.

Forest Lakeís John Fahnhorst, Mark Sandager, Jake Morrison and Kevin Burk finished 11-12-13-14 for the Rangers in the 100 backstroke.

Forest Lakeís 200 medley relay team of Fahnhorst, Robinson, Corey Docken and Jeff Sandager was fourth.

As for the two Rangers moving on to the state meet, Welch said both should aim for high finishes. The preliminaries start on Thursday (today) with the finals on Saturday.
ìI really want to see them stay even-keeled,î Welch said. ìIf they are even-keeled, theyíll do just fine.î

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