Lakers Fall Short Against Sauk Rapids-Rice in Dual Meet

The Detroit Lakes boys swimming and diving team faced a challenging matchup against the Sauk Rapids-Rice Storm on January 15, 2024, at the Detroit Lakes Community and Cultural Center. The Lakers were unable to secure a victory, falling to their Central Lakes Conference rivals with a final score of 100-82.

Despite the loss, several Lakers showcased strong performances. Ben Mathiason stood out by winning the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 1:55.08. He also contributed to the team’s success as a member of the first-place 200-yard freestyle relay team, which finished with a time of 1:38.38 alongside teammates Andrew Barberg, Alex Mack, and Henry Mathiason. This relay team demonstrated strong teamwork and speed, helping to keep the competition close.

In addition to the relay success, Mathiason continued to excel individually. He secured a second-place finish in the 100-yard backstroke, clocking in at 1:03.02. Alex Mack also earned a silver medal in the 100-yard butterfly, finishing with a time of 1:01.32.

The Lakers saw further success in the individual events, with Emmett Stuewe winning the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 2:33.65. In the diving category, Lucas Lundberg claimed first place with a score of 233.70, while teammate Kade Muff followed closely in second place, scoring 181.50.

In the 100-yard freestyle, Paxtyn Steinmetz finished first with a time of 1:05.07, leading a trio of Lakers in the event. Teammates Jameson Norberg and Liam Bennett finished in second and third places, respectively, with times of 1:06.52 and 1:12.63.

The Lakers will look to bounce back as they return to the pool on January 17, 2024, competing at the University of Minnesota Morris for the Section True Team Tournament. The team’s performance in this upcoming event will be crucial as they aim to improve upon their results from the dual meet against Sauk Rapids-Rice.