Park High School swimming and diving will be thinner than normal this year – thanks to Covid 19 – but the Wolfpack will still have plenty of swim power. Leading the way for longtime coach Amanda …
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Park High School swimming and diving will be thinner than normal this year – thanks to Covid 19 – but the Wolfpack will still have plenty of swim power. Leading the way for longtime coach Amanda Johnson’s Park team will be a trio of sprinters who competed in the Minnesota state meet last season. Back for the Wolfpack are three of the four swimmers off the school’s record-setting 200 individual medley relay team which finished 12th at state – Devin Schwartz, Nathan LeMay and Matt Glenna.
Schwartz (21.87, 18th) and LeMay (22.08, 20th) also swam personal bests in the 50-freestyle at state last season. Schwartz is the Park record holder in the 50 freestyle sprint as well as the 100 backstroke (56.86). Also returning for the Wolfpack will be senior Dylan Purrington, another two-time Park school record holder, this time in the 100 breaststroke (58.06) and in the 200 IM (1:58.50).
“We’ll have a strong sprint team,” said coach Johnson. “Our strongest distance swimmers are our younger boys, ninth and eighth graders this year.”
Some swimmers and divers will be sitting the season out because of Covid, Johnson said. “And I understand that. It’s going to be a different year,” Johnson continued.
“With just 19 out it’s going to be the smallest number we’ve ever had. But we have high expectations. For them to win a meet is a great expectation. We want to Improve times and have a great section meet.”
Park opens the season at home Thursday against Forest Lake in the Cottage Grove Middle School pool.
As of now, no parents or fans will be permitted at the competitions, but there will be live recordings of the meets. There’s also the possibility the no-fan regulations may be eased, as it was for last fall’s Minnesota high school volleyball season.
While there will be a Section 3AA meet this winter, whether or not there will be a state swimming and diving tournament has yet to be determined, Johnson said.
“We’re looking forward to a great season,” Johnson said. “It’s going to be a fun year. It will be fun to see the young swimmers fill the shoes of kids that are gone.”
