---

Although the Chisago Lakes’ swimmers and divers that participated at the state meet last week couldn’t escape the preliminaries, it was still a fruitful experience for all seven of them.

The meet, which was held at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center on the University of Minnesota campus, started with the divers on Thursday, March 6.

Talan Koester-Radmann and Brayden Dameral finished just outside of the semi finals draw, with Koester-Radmann especially close.

The freshman was making his second straight trip to the state tournament and he put up a 116.65 in the prelims, hoping that could extend his season and get him through to the next round.

Unfortunately, Corbin Deichman of Mankato West barely edged Koester-Radmann out, scoring a 120.0 in the prelims to push the CL frosh down to 21 place, ending his season.

Dameral, also a freshman, was making his state meet debut and although he was just one place behind Koester-Radmann, he didn’t quite have the juice to threaten for the semifinals, scoring an 89.05. It was just enough to edge out Elliot Johnson of Breck/Blake,  who scored an 88.75, to finish in 22nd place out of 24 divers.

When the swimmers took to the pool on Friday, March 7, the Chisago Lakes quartet of seniors Tanner Betts, Jackson Cunningham, Nate Bear and Grant Sundberg led off the meet in the 200 medley relay.

The foursome finished in 1:45.39, which was a shade below their section time, and it put them in 20th place out of 23 teams.

But, only the top 16 advanced to Saturday’s finals and consolation finals, ending the season of Sundberg, as the other three competitors would take part in the 200 freestyle relay later in the day, paired with junior Riley Solberg.

In that race, the boys again had a bit of difficulty with the large stage of the packed aquatic center and finished a second and a half behind their seed time, coming in 20th out of 22 teams with a mark of 1:36.32.

With just the top 16 teams moving on, that ended the boys swim season after the 200 free.

---