Boys Swimming: Tigers depth beats Hopkins

Evan Carufel won one-meter dive (photo by Jim Lindquist)

Hopkins finished first in seven of 12 events but Farmington piled up the points in places two through five to roll past the Royals 95-89 in a non-conference dual meet Thursday night at the Dodge Middle School pool.

"The boys really stepped up," Tiger coach Ryan Hamen said. "Our top swimmers swam at least one off-event and still finished strong. I'm very proud of how our guys swam."

The Farmington 200 freestyle relay team of Eric Schimmel, Christian Bell, Dan Berg and Christopher Kirchamann was a winner as were four Farmington individuals: Schimmel, 50 freestyle; Kirchmann, 100 freestyle; Evan Carufel, diving and Austin Kueck, 500 freestyle.

The Tigers scored second place points in four events, including Oliver Chow in the 200 individual medley and 100 backstroke; Kirchmann in the 100 breaststroke and and Berg in the 50 freestyle.

No fewer than eight Farmington entries contributed thrid place efforts in the victory: Molnar, 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke; Kueck, 200 individual medley; Nick Stephan, 100 breaststroke; Tyler Lerbakken, 50 freestyle; Dahlton Bell, 100 freestyle; Jonathan Bovee, diving and Aaron Cochnauer, 100 butterfly.  

"Tonight was also a real learning night for many of our swimmers," Hamen said. "We have 63 guys on the team and about 25 of them are new to the sport.

 "They had a lot of butterflies and nerves working against them but they now know what competitive swimming is about. It got rowdy and there were a lot of cheers for everyone."

Next Tuesday the Tigers host Prior Lake in another non-conference dual at the Dodge pool.