“We swam really really well; the boys were pumped and did what we wanted them to do,”  said Neil Anderson, who co-coaches the men’s swim team with Jeff Sanders and Edwing Gelvez. On Friday, February 25, the men’s team competed in section finals at Richfield middle school.

All coaches were pleased with the athletes’ performance in the meet. Anderson commented, “They had lots of big drops, everyone swam well.” In addition, some swimmers qualified for the state meet. Senior Calder Michienzi qualified in the 200 Individual medley, 100 breaststroke and 4 x 50 medley relay. The 4 x 50 medley also includes Junior Emerson Hunton, junior David Baldus, and senior Riley Kramka. Lastly, sophomore Andres Alvarez qualified for state in the 100 backstroke.

“The highlight of the meet for sure was the 4 x 50 medley relay,” said David Baldus. The South relay team took first in the event, beating Cretin-Derham Hall for the first time since 1999. In addition to that triumph, Michienzi placed first in both of his individual events, 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke, and only missed meet records in both events by one hundredth of a second. Thus, he was named ‘swimmer of the meet’. The men’s swim team was also named the section 2AA academic champions.

On Friday, March 4, state preliminaries are being help at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center, starting at 6 PM. “[It’s] not a big meet, we’re not Edina, not trying to win it,” said Anderson. “We hope [we] go faster. It just depends on how [we’re] feeling on that day.” The team’s goal is to place in the top eight so that they can medal.