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Chisago Lakes 97

Spring Lake Park 79

You will hear Jim Sauerbry talk about two things this season when it comes to his boys swimming and diving team; balance and depth. It’s a cause and effect type relationship, one feeding the other. This season, the Wildcats are overflowing with both.

Last Tuesday in their first dual meet of the season, the ‘Cats showcased their depth early with a blistering start in the 200 medley relay. They then kept the accelerator to the floor, burying Spring Lake Park with their balance by winning two of the next three events, giving them a 38-24 win heading into diving.

“I was surprised by the way we started,” said Sauerbry, Chisago Lakes swimming and diving head coach. “I wasn’t sure what they (Spring Lake Park) had. The kids were ready to go and they swam really well.”

Once diving rolled around, the ‘Cats were feeling good about their chances, still the Chisago divers decided to widen the gap anyway. Brian Willhite, Jeremy Salokar, and Andy Willhite went 1-2-3, pushing the Chisago lead to 51-16.

Things got even better from there. After a brief warm-up, senior Wayne Schafer heated up the pool with a win in the butterfly. Schafer touched the wall with a state qualifying time of 58.13. John Roggemann followed that up with a win in the 100 free style. Throw in three second place finishes down the stretch, including a second by Trevor Schuler in the 500 freestyle, and Chisago had itself a convincing first win, 97-79.

“I think our depth is what got them, it overpowered them. The kids are swimming aggressively, they are going out after better times and seeing results early in the meet which sets the tone for the rest of it,” remarked Sauerbry. “Trevor Schuler swam an unbelievable race in the 500 free, that was the race of the meet. John Roggemann swam really well with four first place finishes. I think a lot of it goes back to our senior captains (Wayne Schafer, Greg Stignani, Sam Tosteson) and how they have been able to bring this team together. It’s a great group to be around.”

The win moved the Wildcats dual record to 1-0 on the season with Cambridge-Isanti up next.

Chisago Lakes 97

Spring Lake Park 79

Individual Results- CL only

(Top 3):

200 Medley Relay:

1. Chisago Lakes 2:01.67

(S. Boo, B. Willhite, Roggemann, Schuler)

3. Chisago Lakes

(D. Willhite, Swanson, Salokar, Olson)

200 Freestyle:

1. Wayne Schafer 2:00.38

200 Ind. Medley:

1. John Roggemann 2:29.02

3. Andrew Turner 2:39.24

50 Freestyle:

2. Trevor Schuler 28.38

3. Cameron Novak 28.54

Diving:

1. Brian Willhite 249.45

2. Jeremy Salokar 218.70

3. Andy Willhite 113.80

100 Butterfly:

1. Wayne Schafer 58.13*

3. Cameron Novak 1:10.10

100 Freestyle:

1. John Roggemann 56.72

2. Steve Boo 58.35

500 Freestyle:

2. Trevor Schuler 5:52.33

3. Greg Stignani 6:16.29

200 Freestyle Relay:

2. Chisago Lakes 1:50.38

(B. Willhite, Novak, Turner, Schafer)

3. Chisago Lakes 2:01.37

(Salokar, Olson, Schuler, Swanson)

100 Backstroke:

2. Steve Boo 1:11.06

3. David Willhite 1:19.05

*State qualifying time

Chisago Lakes 107

Cambridge-Isanti 79

Remember balance and depth? Consider this, last Thursday in Cambridge, Wayne Schafer won his fourth DIFFERENT event and John Roggemann became the sixth DIFFERENT swimmer to swim the 100 butterfly (he won). All of that in only two meets.

The ‘Cats strengths showed in the first race of the night. After falling behind in the 200 medley relay, Schafer jumped into the pool on the third leg and took the lead. Roggemann then swam the anchor, holding on to win the race, giving the Wildcats the early lead. They never looked back.

“That set the tone definitely,” commented Sauerbry. “Cambridge jumped out to a good lead in that race with their backstroker and breaststroker. Wayne got into the pool probably a half-length back and caught up and took the lead. Then Roggemann held on. That was a really fun race and I think it pumped the guys up. They saw that we were behind and that made everyone realize that we had to be ready to go, that everyone had to be at their best to win.”

They were. In the very next race, Steve Boo, Greg Stignani, and Trevor Schuler went 1-2-3 in the 200 freestyle and the Wildcats never looked back.

Chisago Lakes posted first place finishes in the next four events including two by Roggemann, en route to a convincing 107-79 win. When it was all said and done, Roggemann and Schafer each had four first place finishes (two individual, two relay) while Brian Willhite had three.

“I’m really excited about this team,” remarked Sauerbry. “I’m most excited about the fact that the guys are swimming this well and still putting in some tough workouts. Their bodies aren’t breaking down. They want to get better. It’s just been so much fun, they are a positive group of kids and they work hard. After meets, I can’t wait to get back to the pool to be with them.”

In time, in time, a lot of pool time lies ahead for the 2-0 Wildcats. After the holiday break, the ‘Cats schedule heats up the second week of January with three meets in one week. The Chisago Lakes Invite follows on January 17.

Chisago Lakes 107

Cambridge-Isanti 79

Individual Results- CL only

(Top 3):

200 Medley Relay:

1. Chisago Lakes 2:00.38

(D. Willhite, B. Willhite, Schafer, Roggemann)

200 Freestyle:

1. Steve Boo 2:13.41

2. Greg Stignani 2:13.70

3. Trevor Schuler 2:14.19

200 Ind. Medley:

1. John Roggemann 2:25.03

3. David Willhite 2:43.19

50 Freestyle:

1. Wayne Schafer 24.82

Diving:

1. Brian Willhite 242.05

2. Jeremy Salokar 211.25

100 Butterfly:

1. John Roggemann 1:05.43

100 Freestyle:

2. Andrew Turner 1:02.04

500 Freestyle:

1. Wayne Schafer 5:37.82

2. Trevor Schuler 6:02.47

3. Andy Shaleen 6:46.18

200 Freestyle Relay:

2. Chisago Lakes 1:50.92

(Novak, Turner, Swanson, Stignani)

3. Chisago Lakes 2:03.59

(Salokar, Olson, Schuler, B. Willhite)

100 Backstroke:

2. Steve Boo 1:09.91

100 Breaststroke:

1. Brian Willhite 1:17.20

3. Andrew Turner 1:21.51

400 Freestyle Medley Relay:

1. Chisago Lakes 3:51.44

(Roggemann, Boo, Stignani, Schafer)

3. Chisago Lakes 4:18.86

(Shaleen, D. Willhite, Novak, Schuler)

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