Minnetonka tops Eden Prairie for title

Just half a point separated Eden Prairie and Minnetonka heading into the 12th and final event of the Class 2A state swimming and diving meet Saturday at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center, the 400-yard freestyle relay.

The Eagles had the edge with 220 points, while the Skippers -- who finished second at state last year -- sat at 219.5.

Minnetonka senior Zach Stettner, who swam the anchor leg, did not mince words in describing the tension.

"My mindset [before the race] is just 'give it all you've got.' If I die I die, and no matter what, I'm going to be happy with the result."

The result was indeed a good one, as Minnetonka finished second in 3:08.79 to top the Eagles, who finished fifth in 3:13.87.

This placed Minnetonka atop the field with 253.5 total points.

Eden Prairie finished in second place with 248, while Edina -- winner of the past three Class 2A state titles -- took third with 232.5.

"They mean the world to me," Stettner said of his coaches. "They're our motivation. They're basically the heart and soul of the team."

Guerrera declined an interview request after the meet, saying his athletes deserved the credit for winning the title.

Four-peat eludes Edina Although his team's three-year championship streak had just come to a close, Edina's Art Downey, in his 55th year as the school's coach, was smiling after the meet -- and with good reason.

His team, led by future Gopher Max Cartwright, won four individual events and two relays.

When it comes to the state meet, Downey said with a smile, "The one you're in right now, that's the best one you've ever been in. The team I coached this year, that's the best team I've ever coached. The team I coach next year, that will be the best team I've ever coached."

Class 1A swimming After leading Fergus Falls to its first Class 1A swimming and diving title, senior Mike Hurley donned an Indiana Hoosiers T-shirt, and not because it was the only one he had lying around.

Hurley will swim for Hoosiers coach Ray Looze next year, but Saturday, the state Class 1A 200-yard individual medley record-holder was too busy cementing a spot in Minnesota swimming history for his current coach, Tom Uvaas, the Otters' coach of 34 years.

"Mike Hurley is a real gift," Uvaas said. "He's just the complete package."

With 205 points, Fergus Falls edged St. Thomas Academy by one, while last year's champion, Breck/Blake, finished third with 201 points.

Poolside• On Saturday, for the second year in a row, Hurley and Breck/Blake sophomore Mitchell Foster finished first and second, respectively, in the 200-yard individual medley.

"Every time I swim against [Hurley] I feel like I get faster. ... It's so much fun to have him next to you, and he's such a great swimmer, so I'm going to miss him next year," Foster said.

With a time of 1:49.2, Hurley eclipsed his own state Class 1A record time.

• Detroit Lakes senior Jon Melgaard's first year with the Lakers was also the first year for his coach, Bobbi Jo Koons.

On Saturday, their relationship and Melgaard's high school career came full circle as Melgaard won the 1A state 1-meter diving title with 20 points and a finals score of 423.05.

"[Koons] learned a lot from me, and I learned a ton from her," said Melgaard, who improved from a fifth-place showing at state last year.

Hyde, who finished second in last year's 50-yard freestyle, took first place this year in a state 1A record time of 20.61 seconds.