Compiled by the STMA Swimming Coaches
Saturday afternoon, the STMA Boys Swim and Dive Team became the Section 8AA champions for the second year in a row. With determination and heart, the Knights pulled out a remarkable victory when the odds were stacked against them. It was a meet that will be remembered by the Knights for years to come.
With a disqualification in the opening medley relay event, the Knights had to find the fortitude to fight back, adding excitement and drama to each race. Max Lezer and Ryan Everly went one, two in the 200 free both finishing with qualifying times for the state meet this week. Lezer broke a 24 year old pool record and a 16 year old section meet record with his performance. Will Gallagher finished in third place in the 50 free and qualified for the state meet with his lightning fast swim. In the 500 free, Lezer dominated the field finishing in first place with a state qualifying time of 4:43.79. Gallagher, Braden Wermager, Everly, and Lezer combined their athleticism to out touch the competition in the 200 free relay. The first place finish and state qualifying time was hard fought with St. Cloud Tech taking second place 0.06 of a second behind STMA. Coach Kelli Nadeau had nothing praise for the team stating, “I told these guys to swim with their hearts and that they did!.”
In the diving competition, Cole Meyer, Adam Konsor, and Levi Lefebvre finished in eighth, ninth, and thirteenth place respectively. Coach Jaimie Larson is excited for the future of her diving team with all three section finalists back next year.
The STMA Boys’ Swim team (joined in the pool by managers and statisticians) celebrate their second straight Section Championship.
Even with the outstanding performances throughout the meet, it appeared that the point deficit going into the last two events was too great for the Knights to overcome. Then, after the jaw dropping first, second, and third place performances in the breaststroke event, the Knights moved into first place. Drew Roberts had an incredible first place finish, with Gallagher touching the wall in second, and Ryan Marhula finishing third. Roberts and Gallagher will represent the team at the state meet. The celebrating began as soon as Nate Morgan, Everly, Gallagher, and Lezer won the 400 free relay, advancing to state and making the title of section champions official. The phenomenal ending brought the Knights fans to their feet and created a lasting memory for the whole team.
The Knights will send the largest group of athletes in school history to the AA state meet at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center this week. The schedule of events run Thursday March 3 through Saturday March 5. Go Knights!
Final Team point totals– St. Michael/ Albertville 390, Brainerd 360, St. Cloud Tech 321, Elk River Area ACA 316, Buffalo/ Maple Lake 238, Moorhead 170, Maple Grove 145, Rogers 106, Zimmerman 13
Top Eight Finishers
200 free– Max Lezer 1st, Ryan Everly 2nd, Nate Meyer 8th
200 IM– Braden Wermager 4th, Kam Loven 8th
50 free– Will Gallagher 3rd
1 meter diving– Cole Meyer 8th
100 fly– Ryan Everly 3rd, Braden Wermager 6th
100 free– Ryan Marhula 7th
500 free– Max Lezer 1st, Nate Meyer 8th
200 free relay– Gallagher, Wermager, Everly, Lezer 1st
100 backstroke– Kam Loven 4th, Ryan Sustacek 6th
100 breaststroke– Drew Roberts 1st, Will Gallagher 2nd, Ryan Marhula 3rd
400 free relay– Morgan, Everly, Gallagher, Lezer 1st