After placing second at the Conference Relays in December and logging wins in the diving relay and the 850-freestyle relay, the team had several days of practice before returning to competition in January where the schedule took off. The Boys Swim and Dive team has had a busy eight days with an invite, a dual and the True Team, two-day meet. At the Duluth invite the team placed fifth out of eight teams, then they returned home to take on Two Rivers, winning 105-76. For the True Team meet, Hastings finished sixth out of seven teams.
Jan. 4, Hastings took an overnight trip to Duluth to participate in the Duluth invite where Head Coach Katie McAlpin proclaimed, “The boys swam GREAT!”
The highlight of the meet was Charlie Jensen placing second in diving and because of their overall improvements, the ‘Swimmers of the Meet’ were Alex Culp and Jack McAlpin. Culp cut time in all four of his events. Nine seconds in the 200 freestyle, two seconds in 100 butterfly and the 50-freestyle relay, and six seconds in 100 freestyle relay. Jack McAlpin also had personal best times in all his races. Cutting half a second in the 50-freestyle relay, 16 seconds in the 500 freestyle, two seconds in 100 backstroke and 21 from last year’s 100 freestyle in a relay. Other shoutouts to Kenny Andrea cutting 44 seconds between all of his four events and Oscar Green cutting 10 seconds in 100 butterfly and seven in the 100-breaststroke.

On Tuesday, Jan 7, the Raiders had their first dual meet vs Two Rivers, a conference meet where they defeated Two Rivers 105-76. ‘Swimmers of the Meet’ were Oliver Gergen and Sammy Green. Gergen won all of his races and had season best times in all races. Greeb cut five seconds in the 200 freestyle and one second in the 100-freestyle. Both were personal best times and he placed second in both events.
The ‘Diver of the Meet’ was Jensen. Jensen had a personal best score and took first place.

“Charlie also swam where he had some great times,” added McAlpin. “Other highlights were Oscar Green cut 16 seconds in the 500 freestyle and Culp cut four seconds in 100-breaststroke.”

Jan. 10 and 11 the Raiders participated in the True Team meet. This meet is set up similar to the section meet with diving on Friday and swimming on Saturday. Overall, the boys took sixth at True Team. Jensen placed fifth overall in diving, with a score of 336.25, a personal best. ‘Swimmers of the Meet’ were Thomas Foss and Russell Schalk. Foss won the 100-butterfly, placed second in the 100-backstroke, and was on the fourth place medley relay team and the fifth place 400 free relay. He also had season best times in three of four races. Schalk had a great meet, he cut a second off of his 50-freestyle, placing 22nd and a half a second in his 100-freestyle, placing 18th. Other highlights were Sammy Green shaving six seconds in the 200 individual medley, Kenny Andrea cut 13 seconds in the 100-backstroke.

Up Next

The next opportunity to catch the Raiders in action is Jan. 16, at home against non-conference foe, Apple Valley, at home at 6:00pm.