The Hastings boys swim and dive team wrapped up its season Feb. 18 to 20 at the Section 3AA Championships, finishing fifth in the final team standings with 195 points. East Ridge claimed the section title with 441 points, followed by Eagan with 369.5 and Eastview with 304.
Under section rules, the top two finishers in each event automatically qualify for the state meet. In addition, any swimmer who surpasses the AA state qualifying time also advances, even if he finishes outside the top two.
In the opening event, the 200-yard medley relay, East Ridge won in 1:38.82 and Eagan placed second in 1:41.02, with both teams automatically qualifying by place. East Ridge also beat the AA standard of 1:39.08. Hastings finished fourth in 1:44.22, as Jackson Poncin, Oscar Green, Sam Green and James Jensen combined for 30 team points.
In the 200-yard freestyle, Gabe Lenzen of Apple Valley won in 1:42.63 and Louis Decattoire of Eagan was second in 1:43.24, and both automatically qualified by finishing in the top two. Both swimmers also surpassed the AA standard of 1:45.93. Hastings senior Tristan Herbst placed ninth in 1:53.08.
The 200-yard individual medley was won by Benjamin Briese of East Ridge in 1:59.27, with Lincoln Joyner of Eastview second in 2:01.47. Both advanced by place. The AA qualifying time was 1:57.20, and no swimmer met that mark. Hastings junior Sam Green finished sixth in 2:07.13.
In the 50-yard freestyle, Aidan Fitch of Eastview won in 21.91 and Noah Nordman of East Ridge was second in 22.25, earning automatic state berths. The AA qualifying time was 21.81, and no swimmer went under that standard in the final. Oscar Green led Hastings with an eighth-place finish in 23.35.
The 100-yard butterfly was won by Jamison Reese of East Ridge in 52.54, followed by Nordman in 52.80. Both advanced by place. The AA qualifying time was 52.29, and no swimmer met that time. Sam Green placed fifth for Hastings in 55.48, while James Jensen was 11th in 57.20.
In the 100-yard freestyle, Decattoire claimed the title in 47.08 and Tayo Sennowo of East Ridge was second in 48.63, with both automatically qualifying. Decattoire also beat the AA standard of 48.03. Cody Stewart finished 16th for Hastings in 55.32.
The 500-yard freestyle saw Lenzen win in 4:45.39 and Wes Knapp of Rosemount place second in 4:48.98. Both qualified by finishing in the top two and both surpassed the AA mark of 4:51.80. Herbst took sixth for Hastings in 5:05.76.
In the 200-yard freestyle relay, Eastview won in 1:28.95 and Eagan was second in 1:30.51, earning automatic state berths. Eastview also bettered the AA standard of 1:29.54. Hastings finished seventh in 1:39.06, with Poncin, Brady Stewart, Cody Stewart and Herbst swimming the relay.
The 100-yard backstroke was won by Reese in 53.92, with Blake Moss of East Ridge second in 54.90. Both advanced by place, and Reese also beat the AA standard of 54.52. Jensen led Hastings with a fourth-place finish in 56.46, and Poncin placed eighth in 59.22.
In the 100-yard breaststroke, Benjamin Briese of East Ridge won in 1:00.96 and Liam Wefring of Eagan tied for second in 1:01.34 with Mackenzie Schroeder of Rosemount. All three advanced, with Briese qualifying by place and Wefring and Schroeder sharing the second automatic berth due to the tie. The AA standard was 1:00.78, and no swimmer went under it. Oscar Green placed eighth for Hastings in 1:06.45.
The meet concluded with the 400-yard freestyle relay, where Eagan won in 3:15.57 and East Ridge placed second in 3:17.59, both qualifying by place. Eagan also beat the AA standard of 3:16.48. Hastings finished fourth in 3:25.49, as Oscar Green, Jensen, Sam Green and Herbst closed out the season.
While no Hastings swimmers advanced to state, the Raiders recorded multiple top-eight finishes and wrapped up their year with a fifth-place team finish in a competitive section field.