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| Christopher Kirchmann 50 and 100 freestyle conference champ (photo by Jim Lindquist) |
Coach Ryan Hamen reports that no less than 21 swimmers and divers return from a squad that finished second in the Missota Conference and third at the Section 1AA Championships last season.
At the top of that list are seniors Christopher Kirchmann and Evan Carufel, both Misota Conference champions last winter. Kirchmann won the conference 50 and 100 freestyle races while Carufel took the top spot in the league's one-meter diving competition.
Aaron Cochnauer. who earned all-Missota honorable mention last year. also returns for his senior season.
Other returnees include seniors Christian Bell, Dahlton Bell, Bradley Dow, Mitch Haugen, Tyler Lerbakken and Cameron Molnar; juniors Daniel Berg, David Bovee, Brandon Dion, Alex Garofalo, Spencer Kabran, Eric Schimmel and Nicholas Stephan; sophomores Jonathan Bovee, Garrett Haugen and Jonathan Kingsbury and eighth-graders Ian Alexander and Austin Kueck.
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| Evan Carufel Missota Conference diving champion |
Hamen said he hoped his team's depth and strong work ethic will provide what is needed to forge a successful season.
"The boys are extremely goal-oriented and working hard to reach their goals," he said. "The veterans are setting a great example for the newcomers who are also determined to have a great season....We are excited and ready for the challenges we will face."
Hamen expects Kirchmann, the Bells, Schimmel and Carufel to handle most of the sprinting chores with Kabran, the Haugens, Stephen, David Bovee, Dion, Cochnauer and Garofalo carrying the load in the middle distance events.
Berg, Kueck and Molnar look like the early contenders in the distance races with Carufel and Jonathan Bovee manning the diving positions.
Phil Weix returns as Hamen's varsity assistant coach with John Tagg back to work with the divers.
The Tigers officially open their 2012-13 season Thursday when they host the Missota Conference Relays at the Dodge Middle School pool.
