Park boys swimming & diving: Wolfpack ends season in style, beats White Bear

The Park High School’s boys swimming and diving team ended its regular season in style, defeating White Bear Lake 107-79 in a Suburban East Conference contest last Thursday, Feb. 9, at White Bear Lake.

The victory was Park’s third dual win of the season, advancing the Wolfpack to 3-9 (2-8 SEC).

Prior to this season, Park went two years without winning a dual meet. This year’s success is largely credited to seniors Travis Dorsch, Conner Rand, Matt Denn and Nick Wheelock, who have been strong mentors for the underclassmen, Park coach Amanda Johnson said.

Against White Bear Lake, though Park took an early lead, the Bears came within two points of the Wolfpack after the diving competition. Park widened the gap, however, with a series of individual and relay victories, including Rand in the 100 freestyle (52.96 seconds), Wheelock in the 100 backstroke (1:05.05) and Dorsch in the 100 breaststroke (1:05.55). Denn also took second in the 100 breast (1.13.03).

Rand, Dorsch, freshman Jarrett Mansergh and Wheelock won the 200 medley relay (1:50.82), while Dorsch, Mansergh, junior Matt Henry and freshman Adam Raymond won the 200 free relay (1:39.62). Henry, Raymond, Wheelock and Rand were victorious in the 4x100 free relay (3:42.53), while Raymond also won the 200 free (1:56.86) and 500 free (5:13.07).

Each of the divers had season-best finishes, including freshman Nick Germscheid, who earned 169.80 points for third place, and junior Nathan Pearson, who finished with 150.15 for fourth place. They were followed by sophomore Kevin Roettger (144.70), eighth-grader Bobby Heitman (137.00) and freshman Alex Fillmore (95.45).

Though last Thursday was the Wolfpack’s final meet of the regular season, the junior varsity will compete in the JV conference meet at Stillwater on Saturday. In the meantime, the Wolfpack varsity team will be prepare for the Section 4AA tournament, which will be Feb. 23 in Stillwater.

Johnson said she is looking forward to the meet and to see what the team can do.

“I’m really hoping we can get a couple more into the finals this year,” she said.

Tags: swimming and diving, sports, park, wolfpack, prep