Boys swimming & diving: East Ridge tops rival Woodbury

The East Ridge boys swimming and diving team was victorious last Thursday, Jan. 19, when it beat intra-district rival Woodbury 100-78.

East Ridge won 10 of the 12 events in the meet, including the 200-yard medley relay, where the team of seniors Austin Davidson, Justin Kong, Matt Koken and sophomore Sam Scholz placed first with a time of 1:43.16. They were followed by Woodbury’s team of seniors Garth Natwick and Scott Bolles, sophomore Daniel Ehle and eighth-grader Garrett Norsten, who clocked a time of 1:45.95 in the event.

Davidson also took first place in the 200 individual medley and 100 yard butterfly. Additionally, Koken placed first for the Raptors in the 200-yard freestyle and 100 yard freestyle events. The two seniors also helped the Raptors to finish first, along with team members Sam Scholz and freshman Kent Rabideaux, in the 200-yard freestyle relay. Their winning time was 1:31.12. Woodbury’s team of Natwick, Bolles, junior David Khazanovich and eighth-grader Brady Bennett was awarded second place in the relay after they finished at 1:39.18.

In the 50-yard freestyle, Kong’s 23.72 earned him second place, just after Woodbury senior Gregory Norsten’s first-place time of 21.94.

Freshman Garrett Verhoeven nabbed first place for East Ridge in the 500-yard freestyle, finishing at 5:08.87, while eighth-grade Royals swimmer William Tostensen captured second at 5:20.54.

In diving, East Ridge sophomore Max Samuelson’s 167.50 earned him first place and a best personal score. Woodbury senior Nathan Jensen also set a new personal best score and took second place with a total of 160.80 points.

The team will travel to Chippewa Middle School to go head-to-head against the Roseville Raiders on Thursday, Jan. 26.

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