Boys’ swim places 3rd at Sections, qualifies five swimmers for State
This year has been a year to remember for the BSM boys’ swim team after a very successful season, and they had an even more successful Section 2A Meet on Saturday, February 25. After breaking four school records at Richfield Middle School on Saturday, the team is rolling in hot for State.
The swim season is going exceptionally well for senior captain Tyler Metz. Metz has had a great season and hopes to continue his dominance into the State Meet this weekend. At the Section 2A Meet last weekend, Tyler broke School and Meet records in the 200 Free (1:43.32) and 100 Free (46.79), while also breaking the Pool record in the 100 Free, swimming the fastest 100 Free ever at Richfield Middle School. Metz also anchored the 200 Free Relay (1:31.41) that took 3rd and the 400 Free Relay (3:18.71) that also took 3rd, which broke another School record. Metz advanced to the State Meet in all four of these events.
With Metz’s final year for the BSM boys’ swim team coming to a close, he is determined to go out on top. He has been working as hard as possible in practice and has been pushing himself to the limit. “The 100 Free is my favorite race because it’s not too short but short enough [that] I can sprint the whole time,” Metz said. With his 100 Free being so fast it is no wonder it’s his favorite race.
Along with Metz, sophomore Matt McGonigle broke some School records at the Section 2A Meet and is preparing to help his team out to place as high as possible at State. McGonigle took 6th Place in a tight 200 Free race (1:49.83), while qualifying for State in the event by 0.15 seconds. McGonigle broke a School record in the 500 Free (4:52.93) by taking 3rd, which qualified him for State in that event as well. Matt also took part in the 200 and 400 Free Relay teams that made it to State, including the 400 Free Relay team that broke the School record. “[I am] hoping to execute what I’ve been doing in practice at State, just like I did at [the Section 2A Meet],” McGonigle said. McGonigle can definitely put on a showing at State and can hopefully come home with several All-State medals.
Three other swimmers also qualified for the State Meet. Junior Graham Noble placed 5th in the 100 Back (56.71) and will be competing at the University Aquatic Center on Friday for State. Junior Michael Hunter and senior captain Tommy McGinn made up the other two legs of the 200 and 400 Free Relay teams and helped to carry the relay teams into the State Meet. McGinn came in a close 5th place finish in the 500 Free (4:59.04), beating out the 6th place finisher by 0.05 seconds, and will be joining McGonigle in the event at State.
Even though they traditionally do not get much coverage, the BSM boys’ swim team this season has been so successful because they have such a tight bond and are in it together. “We push each other harder and harder every day,” Metz said. The team is in it to win it and to swim as fast as possible during every single race, and will come out as one of the best BSM boys’ swim teams ever.
The 2017 MSHSL State Class A Swim Meet will be held on Friday, March 3 and Saturday, March 4, at the beautiful and historic University of Minnesota Aquatic Center. The Swimming Prelims are on Friday at 12:00pm, while the Swimming (and Diving) Finals are on Saturday at 12:00pm.
