Lone shark swims at State
Boys’ swimming season comes to a close for all but one
February 28, 2014
Although the boys’ swimming team did not qualify for the State meet, freshman Nate Stone will represent Park Feb. 28.
The team placed last out of six at the section meet, partly due to its lack of a dive team. Every other team that competed in its section meet had dive teams, which gives them additional points to its team score.
Despite this, head coach Joe Yaeger said he thinks the season was successful because of the improvements the team made.
“I thought the season was fantastic,” he said. “Everyone on the team stepped up and swam well and gave it their all.”
Stone is seeded 25th out of 32 competitors for the State competition, and said he hopes to place in top 16 in order to advance to the second day of the competition.
“I would like to go on,” he said. “I’m going to have to drop a little more time but I fixed some things with my stroke.”
Despite his hopes for success, Stone said he is happy with the way the season has progressed.
“This is the reward meet,” he said. “I pushed it at sections and now I’m here and I can kind of just have fun.
According to Yaeger, Stone has a solid chance of having major success at the State meet.
“He’s more than capable of getting to the second day of competition,” he said. “He’s also capable of breaking our team record in the 100-Yard Butterfly.”
That record is currently held by Park alum John Grandberg, who was a state champion in the event during his years at Park.
Stone will compete at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center Friday Feb. 28.
