By Bruce Karnick

The Girl’s Swim and Dive team coaches are looking to utilize their entire schedule window to work with their athletes until the end of October. This is largely due to there being no opportunity for the girls to have meets with more than one opponent including section and state tournaments. Each meet normally requires two officials, one on each side of the pool, an announcer and two scorers at the table and two volunteers as back up timers per lane. The Hastings pool has six lanes, so that means there is a need for twelve volunteers normally. Because of new safety rules, there will still be two officials on the pool deck, an announcer and two scorers at the table. The change will be on the back-up timer side. One parent volunteer per lane, the parents will have to sign up ahead of time and priority is going to go to the parents of the seniors. They will get to pick their dates first. Unfortunately, there will be no fans allowed. Speaking with Athletic Director Trent Hanson, he’s even unsure how it will work for members of the press to get in. “It’s not something we discussed; indoor events are to be essential personnel only,” he said. Very few communities have local sports reporters now, “It was something we didn’t think of. I’ll get back to you.” As it would play out, two additional people will be allowed in. One person from Hastings Community Television to setup and operate cameras for the Live Stream of the home meets. The TV person will be there the entire meet. Local sports reporters? One can come in for a limited time, maintain a safe distance from everyone, take some pictures and leave quickly.

Even with all the changes, the plan is to treat it like a normal season schedule wise according to Assistant Coach Gerry Rupp. This includes the two-week taper period meant to prepare the girls for their final season meets, just like normal years. With the lack of the final conference meets, the coaches will host a high intensity inter-squad meet at the end of the year for the girls. It will not be the same as going to the JV Conference relays, State Sectionals and possibly state, but it will still mean something to the coaches and team, especially the seniors.

Head Coach: Katie McAlpin Assistant: Gerry Rupp Diving: Briana Aarness Managers: Ryan Lester (12), Garrett Watterson (9) Seniors Jocelyn Brink (Captain), Lauren Pace (Captain), Annika Tverberg (Captain), Erin Clark, Nora Hitchcock, Sydney Mares Juniors Kendal Jenkins, Kendra Kosmoski, Lydia Lerbs, Claire Meier, Sunshyne Radford, Olivia Smiley, Ireland Zaruba Sophomores Berlyn Byrd, Emma Carter, Ava Mamer, Ava McNamara, Shannon Olson, Chloe Robinson Freshman Clara Birken, Grace Gerlach, Lauren Jenkins, Ashtyn Stewart 8th Grade Kira Aarness, Isabel Green (Izzy), Josephine Larson (Josey) Girls Swim and Dive Schedule 9/3 Tartan Home 6:00 pm 9/8 So St Paul Home 6:00 pm 9/10 Simley Away 6:00 pm 9/17 Mahtomedi Away 6:00 pm 9/22 Simley Home 6:00 pm 9/24 Henry Sibley Home 6:00 pm 10/1 Hill-Murray Away 6:00 pm 10/6 Henry Sibley Away 6:00 pm 10/8 So St Paul Home 6:00 pm 10/13 North Away 6:00 pm 10/30 Inter-squad Championship HOME