3 first-place finishes
(photo by Jim Lindquist)
Farmington geared up for its first-ever appearance in the True Team State Championships with a workmanlike 98-83 dual meet win over Rochester Mayo Thursday night, Jan. 27, at the Dodge Middle School pool.
The Tigers used their superior team depth to build a commanding lead and swam the meet's final event in exhibition status.
"We didn't have a lot of time drops but had a meet we expected," Tiger coach Ryan Hamen said. "We are in the middle of the season and the boys are really working on swimming smart.
"Practices are getting tougher and the boys are really working on their cardiovascular endurance and fine tuning their strokes."
Brian Huls, Tyler Magalis, Allen Berg and Zach Holton each turned in multiple first place finishes with Huls, Magalis, Holton and Loren Hatten starting the meet with a win in the 200 medley relay.
Later, Huls would capture the 200 individual medley and 100 backstroke races while Berg would lead the field in the 200 and 500 freestyle events. Magalis cruised to an easy win in the one-meter diving competition and Holton touched first in the 100 butterfly.
Hatten (100 backstroke) and Aaron Lane (100 breaststroke) scored the only two Tiger runner-up finishes.
Five other Farmington entrants supplied third place points: Christopher Kirchmann, 100 and 200 freestyle; Aaron Cochnauer, 100 butterfly; Matthew Stephan, 100 breaststroke; Magalis, 50 freestyle and Holton, 200 medley relay.
The Tigers hit the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center this Saturday for the Class AA True Team Championships.
