Posted: 12/1/04

Hubbard ties for 5th in state diving competition

Joe Drennan
Sports Editor

The three members of the Forest Lake High School girls swimming and diving team competed at the state swimming and diving meet this week.

Senior diver Brianna Hubbard finished out a stellar high school diving career with a fifth place finish in the diving competition. After the first day, Hubbard was in fourth place with 283.20. In the finals, each diver dove three times and Hubbard was able to increase her score to 392.65 which put her in a tie for fifth place with Hillary Provo from Lakeville.

ìIt was a nice way to end a career for high school. She worked hard all season for it and put a good dive meet together and seemed comfortable down there,î Rangers diving coach Deb Welch said. ìWeíve been in diving for probably the last 12 years and at that level that is the first time I can remember there being a tie so the probability has to be pretty darn high.î

Hubbardís diving teammate Janel Duffy was unable to make it out of the prelims at the state diving competition. Duffy scored 123.60 and didnít make the cut of 32 divers down to 20.

ìI think she did really well. I was proud of her because she didnít make her double forward and she knew she wasnít going to make the cut and went out there and just about aced her next dive,î Welch said. ìWe went into this knowing going down there is quite the thing and she is determined to be back next year. Thatís whatís nice about going as a tenth grader.î

Swimmer Amanda Nelson was the lone Rangers swimmer at the state swimming and diving meet. Nelson qualified in both the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard butterfly.

On the first day of swimming, Nelson qualified for the consolation race in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 24.90. In the consolation race Nelson finished seventh, 15th overall, with a time of 25.09.

Amandaís entire goal for the season was to make finals for both of her events so that was the first big goal.

ìShe competed awesome. She was excited to be there, feeling good and looking great in the water,î Rangers swimming coach Rochelle McKenzie said. ìWe talked about finally breaking 25.00 and she broke it. That 25 barrier is a huge one to break through and she did it.î

In the 100-yard butterfly, Nelson qualified for the consolation race with a time of 1:00.87 in the prelims. In the consolation race Nelson finished sixth, 14th overall, with a time of 1:01.20.

"With the limited recovery time between events she did extremely well," McKenzie said. ìEven though she didnít get under a minute like she was shooting for she really went out there and did great. I couldnít ask any more from her.î

Senior Katie Clark received the Ranger Award at the swimming and diving teamís banquet Monday night.

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