Tyler Magalis Class AA Diving Champion
The 2010-11 season couldn't have gone much better for coach Ryan Hamen and his Tiger boys swimming and diving team.
Not only did Farmington win the Section 1AA True Team and Missota Conference championships for the first time in school history, it also ranked second at the Section 1AA Championships, produced its second state diving champion, broke six school records and qualified entrants in six events for the Class AA state meet where it finished 14th in the team standings.
And just for a little icing on the cake, Hamen received Section 1AA Coach of the Year honors and diving coach Gregg Rappe picked up the section Diving Coach of the Year award. Tyler Magalis, who went on to claim the state one-meter diving title, also was selected Diver of the Year in Section 1.
"We had an exemplary season," Hamen said. "In our history we've never won as many awards as we did this year. Finishing with results, achieving personal bests and placing high in so many championship meets show the dedication and fortitude the boys had this year.
"One of our biggest strengths was depth. We had some great swimmers but also needed the boys to get those thirds and fourths and they came through and dropped their times. I am very proud of what we achieved this year."
Twenty-two Tigers received letters for their efforts during this record season, including five seniors: Magalis, Brian Huls, Allen Berg, Andrew Cayard and Matthew Stephan.
Underclassmen receiving letters included juniors Conner Kealy, Zach Holton and Derek Anderson; sophomores Christopher Kirchmann, Aaron Lane, Evan Carufel, Cameron Molnar, Tyler Lerbakken, Mitch Haugen, Ben Cohoon, Aaron Cochnauer and David Bovee; freshmen Nick Stephan, Matt Clark, Eric Schimmel, Garrett Haugen and Jonathan Bovee.
Huls, who went on to earn-all state honors in the 100 freestyle was the team's Most Valuable Player, and along with state diving champion Magalis, Berg, Kirchmann and Holton won all-Missota Conference honors. Lane and Carufel garnered all-league honorable mention.
Other team awards included: Most Improved-Lerbakken; Most Dependable-Berg; Coaches Award-Holton and I Can Do It, Coach Award-Kirchmann.
Hamen also paid tribute to four non-letter winners, each of whom took home a team award: senior Austin Bell (Hardest Worker); junior Andrew Morris (Co-Most Improved) sophomores Dalton Bell and Christian Bell (Co-Rookies of the Year) and eighth-grader Michael Husnik (Co-Most Improved).
Hamen especially sang the praises of the senior Bell who joined the swim team for the first time this season.
"Austin was a true leader," he said. "He was there every day and brought in a work ethic that helped us a lot. The captains gave him a special award for all he did for the team."
Huls (50 and 100 freestyle), Magalis (diving and relays)) Berg (500 freestyle) and Hatten, Holton and Kirchmann comprised the Farmington state meet contingent.
School records that fell during the 2010-11 season included 200 freestyle (Berg); 50 freestyle (Huls); 100 freestyle (Huls); 500 freestyle (Berg), one-meter diving (Magalis) and 200 freestyle relay (Huls, Kirchmann, Berg, Magalis).
Hamen said he would have liked to have added the school's first-ever Section 1AA title to his team's list of accomplishments but that its second place effort was very satisfying.
"We knew Century would be hard to beat," he said. "but by winning so many medals and having so many personal bests, we left the building feeling very proud of what we did."
Hamen said he is well aware of the implications of the loss of the five seniors for next year's squad but is confident his younger athletes will step up to fill the gaps.
"We'll have some very good swimmers coming back," he said. "We also have some depth but we will have to increase it. A lot will depend on how many athletes can focus on swimming during the off-season and return as leaders in and out of the pool next winter."
