State qualifier in 4 events
(photo by Jim Lindquist)
Farmington finished third and qualified for next weekend's Class AA state meet in five events at the Section 1AA Championships held last Thursday and Saturday at the Rochester Recreation Center.
Rochester Century dominated the meet with a winning total of 432 points. Hastings came in second at 307, followed by Farmington 273, Rochester Mayo 253, Rochester John Marshall 247, Owatonna 208, Winona 201 and Northfield 154.
The Tigers qualified for state in three individual events and two relays. Christopher Kirchmann provided two of the state-worthy performances in the 50 and 100 freestyle races.
Evan Carufel
State qualifier in one-meter diving
(photo by Jim Lindquist)
Diver Evan Carufel added the third with a second place effort in the one-meter diving competition.
Kirchmann joined forces with Zach Holton, Conner Kealy and Aaron Lane to qualify for state in both the 200 and 400 freestyle relays.
"It was an exciting meet on Saturday," Coach Ryan Hamen said. "We had a minimum of two entries in every event with almost every event having at least one athlete in the championship heat.
"These boys have worked hard this year and deserve the opportunity to reach more success at state. It is going to be a great challenge to get into state finals but these boys have the heart and desire, and I am excited about their potential.
"This week we will be working on what is needed to make it happen. We will remain focused and diligent in our efforts to represent Farmington at the largest high school competition of the year."
The state meet will be held Mar 1-3 at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center.
Other top ten Farmington finishes at the Section 1AA Championships:
200 medley relay: 6. Cameron Molnar, Nick Stephan, Brandon Dion, Christian Bell
200 freestyle: 5. Holton; 8. Kealy
100 individual medley: 5. Lane
Diving: 7. Jonathan Bovee
100 butterfly: 6. Holton
100 freestyle: 8. Kealy
100 backstroke: 3. Lane
100 breaststroke: 8. Stephan
