Swimming excels at state meet

Swimmers placed in the freestyle relay, breaststroke

Emily Tifft

As sophomore varsity swimmer Sydney Hall swam in her last state meet event of the year, she realized it was her last chance to swim with some of the seniors from the team she had been swimming with for years.

Sophomore Kailey DeLozier, Hall, junior Neda Salamzadeh, senior Natalie Sandford, and senior Emmi Zheng raced in their last state meet event for a hopeful high placement.

Assistant swimming coach Amanda Forsberg said the team placed 14th with a time of 1:39.88 in the 200-yard freestyle relay with Delozier, Hall, Salamzadeh and Sandford. Zheng placed 19th with a time of 1:08.21 in the 100 breaststroke.

Forsberg said the five swimmers who went to state exceeded her expectations.

“They all did really well, we were not expecting to get to state, it was a long shot, but they all did well,” Forsberg said.

Forsberg said the state team really excelled at the 200 freestyle relay by working well together as a team.

“Our relay was really good. We probably had the best relay we have had all season,” Forsberg said.

Forsberg said one swimmer stood out because of her .23 second time drop from sections.

“Hall dropped the most time, she had a big drop in the 50 free,” Forsberg said.

Hall said even though it was a strenuous meet, the team pulled through with good placement while swimming with her teammates.

“As a team I think we did really well overall, especially since our section is really tough.” Hall said. “With teams like Edina, Minnetonka and Eden Prairie, we were able to hold down against those really fast teams.”