Boys' swimming and diving preview: Three story lines
December 3, 2013 at 4:39AM
Eden Prairie successfully defended its Class 2A state championship in 2013, the second time it had done so. The last was in 2003. Can it three-peat? The first opportunity eluded the Eagles when Edina unseeded them for the title in 2004. Edina and Minnetonka, members of the Lake Conference along with Eden Prairie, are the most likely to prevent Eden Prairie from winning a third consecutive crown.
2. Individual champions wide open
Since the state meet went to two classes in 1998, never has the race been so wide open for the state titles in the 12 events. There is only one returning state champion in an individual event in each class — Rosemount senior Daniel Monaghan (diving in Class 2A) and Red Wing senior Tanner Alms (500-yard freestyle in Class 1A). In the 18 individual events between the two classes, there are only three second-place finishers back this year.
3. Cadets are in a class of their own
St. Thomas Academy, like Eden Prairie, will be seeking a three-peat in Class 1A. The Cadets have owned the small-school division, winning 11 state championships since 1999. They won last year's title by more than 70 points.
RON HAGGSTROM
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The “sticky” ball that coach Chris Finch so deplores showed up for the first game, after a preseason when offense happened smoothly. On defense, “resistance” was missing, the coach said.
