Swimming: Kirchmann leads Tigers to 10th place finish at True Team state

Christopher Kirchmann 3 top 10 finishes at State True Team (photo by Jim Lindquist

The first two times the Tigers won the Section 1AA True Team championship they finished at the back of the pack as the state meet.

After winning a third straight section crown this year, coach Ryan Hamen said his team set a modest goal for its state meet appearance, namely to get out of the cellar at the gathering of the state's best swimmers and divers.

Paced by an outstanding individual performance by Christopher Kirchmann, the Tigers did better than that, ranking 10th in the star-studded 12-team field.

Eden Prairie claimed the team title with 2313 points. Minnetonka finished second at 2159.5, followed by Stillwater 1813, Edina 1690.5, Rosemount 1580.5, Wayzata 1496, Maple Grove 1353, Lakeville South 1291, Anoka 1128, Farmington 1092, St. Michael/Albertville 1041 and Bloomington Jefferson 657.5.

"It may sound negative," Hamen said of his team's quest not to finish last in the meet," but it was our goal and we had some fun with it. Making it here and going up against the best in the state is something to be proud of."

Kirchmann had a brilliant meet for the Tigers, placing third in the 100 freestyle and sixth in the 50 freestyle and anchoring two high-placing relay teams.

The 200 freestyle  quartet of Dahlton Bell, Christian Bell, Cameron Molnar and Kirchmann ranked seventh and the 400 freestyle foursome of Eric Schimmel, Dahlton Bell, Daniel Berg and Kirchmann placed 14th.

"(Kirchmann) showed he is a real contender for a possible good placement at the state meet," Hamen said . "We have a good chance to contend in all of the relays. The tough choice I have is going to be who will be in the one relay entry spot in the conference and section meets."

Diver Evan Carufel provided the other top 10 finish for the Tigers, placing 10th in the one-meter competition. Dahlton Bell finished 15th in the 50 free and Jonathan Bovee took 16th in diving.

The 200 medley relay team of Oliver Chow, Spencer Kabran, Christian Bell and Schimmel registered a 14th place finish.

Other top Farmington finishes at the state meet:
200 freestyle: 33. Molnar
200 individual medley: 33. Aaron Cochnauer
100 butterfly: 21. Chow
500 freestyle: Austin Kueck
100 backstroke: 21. Chow
100 breaststroke: 24. Kabran