Posted: 12/7/05
Swimming and diving looking to build on success
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Joe Drennan
Sports Editor
Last year the Forest Lake High School boys swimming and diving team captured its first section true team title and repeated as section champions. This year they hope to reclaim both titles.
ìItís possible,î Rangers head swimming coach Barbara Vailodash said.
Itís a possibility for the Rangers because they return the bulk of their main swimmers from last year. The only two seniors off last yearís team that graduated that logged a lot of time at meets were Jake Morrison and Mark Anderson.
Returning swimmers who should make a splash are Sam Gort, Elijah Miller, Mark Sandager, Andy Knaak, Matt Elden, Tyler Sperry and Peter Sandager.
Jake Waskey and Josh Stromberg are also returning to the team after taking a year off to complete their Eagle Scout requirements.
Swimmers who are returning to the team that also swam over the summer include Clint Krummi, Zack Curtis, Kevin Lalla, John Goossens, Mike Bahr, Scott Isaacson and Ricci Flemming.
Returning divers are Dillon Hudalla, Jeff Isaacson, Matt Goossens and Jason Carr.
ìI think so far theyíve shown that theyíre willing to start stepping up and getting the harder dives into the water,î Rangers diving coach Deb Welch said.
Hudalla competed at the state meet last year for the second time, finishing in third place.
ìLast year Jeffery finished seventh in the sections, so if he puts his head to it we still might be able to pick up with two maybe making state,î Welch said. ìHe has a road ahead of him and I think heís capable of doing it.î
Leading the team this year as captains are Gort, Sandager and Hudalla.
Swimming the individual medley will be Miller who led the team in the event last year. Elden swam the 50 yard freestyle last year but also wants to try the individual medley.
When it comes to the 50 yard freestyle Vailodash says sheís going to have to wait and see whoíll fill the spot.
ìThe 50 is an event that you are either a 100 percent sprinter with fast dives and take offs with no questions,î Vailodash said. ìThis season we have sprinters, but Iím not sure whoíll take the lead. You canít produce sprinters, theyíre born.î
Mark Sandager and Sperry are the top 100 yard butterfly swimmers, with Waskey and John Goossens swimming the 100 yard freestyle.
ìThe 100 freestyle is an event that if you have a good freestyle you should have a good time,î Vailodash said.
Sandager should step into the 500 yard freestyle, replacing Anderson who was the top 500 swimmer last year. Peter Sandager should be swimming in the 100 yard backstroke along with Miller.
ìHe (Miller) and Mark (Sandager) fought neck and neck last year for the number one position,î Vailodash said.
Sperry, Curtis and Bahr will be competing in the 100 yard breaststroke.
When it comes to relays Vailodash says sheíll wait and see whoís going to step up in the different events, then fill swimmers into the different relay events.
ìThe progress the teams (boys and girls) have made in the conference standings and more so with sections as times have been improving and bringing more people to state says a lot about the boys and girls programs,î
Vailodash said. ìThe swimmers and divers are taking a lot more pride in what theyíre doing and they understand what hard work and dedication can do for them.î
Competition
The road to the state swimming and diving meet wonít be an easy one as the Rangers swim in the Suburban East Conference, a tough conference in any sport, and in section 7AA.
ìOur conference is one of the toughest in the state, but I see ourselves going into each and every dual meet with 100 percent thought that weíre going to come out of it with our fastest times,î Vailodash said. ìWeíll use those meets as training to get us to sections and for state qualifying times.î
Come conference meet time the Rangers will be battling Blaine, a team they were neck and neck with at the section meet last year. Irondale was up there with the Rangers and Blaine but they lost many of their top swimmers and will most likely be in a rebuilding mode this year.
ìI see our season going as well as it has the past couple of years,î Vailodash said. ìEvery year is going to be different because you graduate athletes, but every year in general you hope that as every team steps up their performance that your team does so as well.î
The Rangers next meet is today, Thursday, when they travel to Stillwater at 6 p.m. The Rangers return home Thursday, Dec. 15, to host Cretin-Derham Hall. The Rangers will be hosting a food drive to support area food shelves. The Rangers ask that anyone attending the meet bring food to donate.
Forest Lake Times
P.O. Box 218
880 SW 15 St.
Forest Lake, MN 55025
651-464-4601
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