By John Molene

Record-setting swimmer Philip Jensen closed out his Hastings High School career in style Saturday, medaling in two events in the 2022 MSHSL Boys AA Swim & Dive Championships.

Jensen finished in the top 8 in both the 100-yard butterfly and the 100-yard backstroke Saturday in the state meet held in the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center on the University of Minnesota campus.

The Hastings senior was eighth in the butterfly in a time of 50.80, just off his preliminary time of 50.58. Four events later he finished sixth in the state backstroke, coming home in a time of 51.03. He swam a 50.99 time in the backstroke prelims.

“That one hurt a lot,” Jensen said after finishing the backstroke. “I was okay with the time. I thought I could do better but I’m happy with it.”

Jensen dedicated his races in the state finals meet to his former youth coach Kimberly Ann Olson who passed away late last year. Jensen had coach Katie McAlpin write the Olson’s initials on his arm.

“I was holding back tears writing her initials on his arm,” said McAlpin.

Olson, a longtime coach for Hastings’ club team, the Hastings Area Swim Team, H.A.S.T, had a profound impact on the Hastings swim program for decades, including that of Jensen and McAlpin.

Jensen said between the two events he was most pleased with his efforts in the butterfly, where he set the Hastings school record with his swim in the state prelims.

“So far this season the fly’s been feeling better,” Jensen said. “It didn’t feel as good as yesterday (in the prelims), but I was still fine with it.”

Jensen bested his best season times coming in in both events. He qualified for the butterfly with a time of 51.81 and entered with a time of 51.91 in the backstroke.

Hastings ninth grade diver Charlie Jensen scored a best of 188.05 to finish 20th in the diving competition.

Jensen’s efforts gained Hastings a 24th place in the team competition with 24 points. Edina won the state meet for the fourth straight time with 355 points.

Philip Jensen earned two medals at the MSHSL State Swim Meet at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center at the University of Minnesota. Jensen had Coach Katie McAlpin write the initials of his youth swim coach, Kimberly Ann Olson, who passed away this past November. Olson was a long-time coach for Hastings Swimmers. Photo Courtesy of Katie McAlpin