03 March 2013

Boys Swimming: Tigers score 26 points at state

Christopher Kirchmann 11th place 100 freestyle (photo by Jim Lindquist)
Six Tiger participants combined for 26 points and a 22nd place (out of 43 teams) finish at the 2013 Class AA State Swimming and Diving Championships held Thursday through Saturday at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center.

"The team did OK," Tiger coach Ryan Hamen said. "We finished a little better than most years, getting two relays and two individuals into the finals.

"We had hoped to get at least one individual and one relay in the championship heat but it just didn't happen. The competition this year was great."

Christopher Kirchmann had the highest individual finish for the Tigers, placing 11th in the 100 freestyle. Kirchmann finished 22nd in the preliminaries of the 50 freestyle but did not advance.

The 200 freestyle relay of Kirchmann, Cameron Molnar, Dahlton Bell and Christian Bell also scored 11th place points.

Senior diver Evan Carufel ranked 13th in the one-meter diving competition. Teammate Jonathan Bovee was 27th in the diving preliminaries.

The 400 freestyle foursome of Kirchmann, Molnar, Dahlton Bell and Christian Bell closed out the Farmington scoring with a 15th place effort.

"The boys didn't get some times they had hoped for but they were real excited to be there (at state)," Hamen said.

Evan Carufel 13th place in diving (photo by Jim Lindquist)