Swimming: Baron places fifth at state

After getting dubbed as the fastest freshman in International Falls history two seasons ago, the junior finished fifth in the 50-yard freestyle and 10th in the 100 freestyle Saturday at the Class A state swimming and diving meet at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center.

Baron’s two teammates improved on preliminary results at state, as well. Ben Shofner finished 12th in the 100 butterfly in 55.8 seconds, and Alex Henningsen finished 14th in diving with 248.4 points.

For Baron, however, the goals keep getting higher and higher.

“It kind of all fell into place (this season),” he said.

After not qualifying for state in the 100 and finishing 10th last year at state in the 50, Baron improved on both in 2010. He also accomplished his goal of breaking school records in the 50 and 100. His time of 21.87 in Saturday’s finals is the new mark in the 50 and his time of 48.63 in the 100 is the other new mark. Both times broke his own record, which he established at the Section 4A meet the week before.

Baron’s time of 21.87 in the 50 also put him in the top 15 in the state. He would’ve finished eighth at the Class 2A level.

His next goal?

“Work harder. Place higher,” he said, noting he’s gunning for Sartell-St. Stephen’s Cameron Hyde, who finished ahead of Baron in the section and at state.

For Shofner, the senior ended his career with nearly the same time from last year.

“I did what I wanted to do and that was swim like I swam last year at state,” Shofner said.

After finishing ninth last year at 55.79, Shofner finished 12th this season at 55.8. The only thing he was disappointed about was missing out on the school record. Kyon Hoffman still holds the mark of 55.4 in the 100 butterfly. It’s a record that’s held pat since 1977 and is the longest standing individual record in the boys swimming program.

“I mean, the record would’ve been really nice, but that’s the best I’ve done all year. Can’t complain,” he said.

Henningsen, a sophomore in his first state meet, moved up one place from 15th to 14th in the finals.

He admitted nerves got to him in his first dive Thursday in prelims, and he was so upset it led to a poor second dive.

Broncos junior Ames Bryant was a the meet and gave Henningsen a quick pep talk, and everything was fine after that.

“I knew I had to kick it into gear if I wanted to get up there,” Henningsen said.

Things went smoothly the rest of the way.

“I’m fine with what I did first year there,” he said, noting he’s aiming for a top eight finish next season.

As a team, the three Broncos combined for 29 points, which was good for 21st place. It’s the most points any Falls swimming and diving team has posted at state and it made them the Iron Range Conference runner-up. Hibbing finished 18th to claim the IRC crown.

“That’s quite an achievement,” Broncos head coach Beth Reed said.

Swimming notes

• At Tuesday’s end-of-the-season banquet, Ames Bryant, Baron and Henningsen were named the 2010-11 captains. Joe Toninato and Myles Wolden were named the Most Improved swimmers on varsity, and Ian Ducharme was named Most Improved swimmer on the junior high squad.

• Coming into the season, Roberto Lezama (1998) owned the school record in the 50 at 22.21, and Adam Larson (1999) owned the record in the 100 at 49.67.

2010 State Boys State Swimming & Diving Championships

Aquatic Center, University of Minnesota

March 6

NOTE: The state meet all-time record (532.70 Points) for diving was tied by Red Wing senior Turner Eckstrom. The state meet Class A record in the 100-yard backstroke was broken by Fergus Falls junior Mike Hurley.

Team Scores — 1. Breck/Blake, 275; 2. Simley, Inver Grove Heights, 232; 3. St.Thomas Academy, Mendota Heights, 176; 4. Bemidji, 145; 5. Monticello, 137; 6. Fergus Falls, 128; 7. East Ridge, Woodbury, 118; 8. Red Wing, 111; 8. Sartell-St. Stephen, 111; 10. Hutchinson Tigers, 108; 11. Mankato East/Loyola, 106; 12. Melrose/Sauk Centre, 84; 13. Richfield, 57; 14. Mankato West, 56; 15. Detroit Lakes, 52; 16. Willmar, 51; 16. Dassel-Cokato/Litchfield, 51; 18. Hibbing, 37; 19. Benilde-St. Margaret’s, 34; 20. Minneapolis Washburn, 33; 21. International Falls, 29; 22. Orono, 27; 23. Morris Area, 23; 24. Sauk Rapids-Rice, 17; 25. Austin, 16; 25. Duluth Denfeld, 16; 27. Hill-Murray, Maplewood, 15; 28. Mound Westonka, 13; 28. Fridley, 13; 30. Montevideo, 12; 30. Thief River Falls, 12; 32. Rocori, 11; 33. Grand Rapids, 6; 34. Perham, 5; 35. Chisago Lakes Area, 4; 36. Faribault, 1; 36. Virginia, 1.

Boys 50 Yard Freestyle — (Championship Final) — 1. Tony Challeen, Simley, 20.83; 2. Cameron Hyde, Sartell-St. Stephen, 21.01; 3. Tim Walker, Litchfield, 21.27; 4. Dylan Hoven, Bemidji, 21.32; 5. Joe Baron, International Falls, 21.87; 6. Ross Wempen, Mankato West, 22.19; 7. Jacob Koetter, Melrose/Sauk Centre, 22.42; 8. Mike Holbrook, Rocori, 22.43; (Consolation Final) — 9. Turner Eckstrom, Red Wing, 22.31; 10. Scott Albares, Monticello, 22.51; 11. Jack Markusen, Breck/Blake, 22.59; 12. J.D. Quinby, Benilde-St. Margaret’s, 22.67; 13. Sam Luby, Simley, 22.72; 14. Jon Plotz, Hutchinson, 22.75; 15. Ryan Strother, Mound Westonka, 22.87; 16. Mitch Beaupre, Faribault, 22.99.

Boys 1 mtr Diving — (Finals) — 1. Turner Eckstrom, Red Wing, 532.70; 2. Zack Laundry, Simley, 382.85; 3. Zach Small, Mankato/Loyal, 343.55; 4. Joe McGrath, Hill-Murray, 340.40; 5. Jon Melgaard, Detroit Lakes, 328.35; 6. Aaron Stinson, Duluth Denfeld, 327.70; 7. Tanner Nordlund, Sartell-St. Stephen, 323.85; 8. Trent Mock, Orono, 309.90; 9. Max Mason, Monticello, 302.05; 10. Clayton Metcalf, Monticello, 284.55; 11. Justin George, Detroit Lakes, 270.50; 12. Chase Testa, Montevideo, 266.45; 13. John Blake, Breck/Blake, 250.60; 14. Alex Henningsen, International Falls, 248.40; 15. Bennet Woltjer, Willmar, 239.50; 16. Josh Skoczen, Sauk Rapids-Rice, 223.50.

Boys 100 Yard Butterfly — (Championship Final — 1. Kyle Engen, Red Wing, 51.52; 2. Paul Fair, Monticello, 51.89; 3. Eben Danielson, Fergus Falls, 52.28; 4. Matt Koken, East Ridge, 53.71; 5. Sam Pritzker, Breck/Blake, 53.82; 6. Andrew Hall, Mankato/Loyal, 54.01; 7. Stephen Bates, Thief River Falls, 54.61; 8. Ross Wempen, Mankato West, 54.72; (Consolation Final) — 9. Sam Luby, Simley, 55.40; 10. Michael McLain, Willmar, 55.44; 11. Elliott Gonsioroski, Simley, 55.50; 12. Ben Shofner, International Falls, 55.80; 13. Luke Johanns, St. Thomas, 55.94; 14. Eddie Bosl, Melrose/Sauk Centre, 56.14; 15. Curran Dougherty, Hibbing, 56.55; 16. Jack Buchanan, Breck/Blake, 56.98.

Boys 100 Yard Freestyle — (Championship Final) — 1. Matt Wilcox, Bemidji, 45.96; 2. Cameron Hyde, Sartell-St. Stephen, 46.41; 3. Tony Challeen, Simley, 46.46; 4. Tim Walker, Litchfield, 47.20; 5. Cole Bateman, Hutchinson, 47.67; 6. Scott Albares, Monticello, 47.94; 7. Connor Triggs, St. Thomas, 48.36; 8. Dylan Hoven, Bemidji, 48.81; (Consolation Final) — 9. Jacob Matenaer, East Ridge, 48.21; 10. Joe Baron, International Falls, 48.63; 11. Nathan Briguet, Simley, 48.76; 12. Shay Mieczkowski, Melrose/Sauk Centre, 49.39; 13. Will Erickson, Breck/Blake, 49.76; 14. J.D. Quinby, Benilde-St. Margaret’s, 49.88; 15. David Kellin, Grand Rapids, 49.92; 16. Jay Zachman, Melrose/Sauk Centre, 50.05.