Minnetonka Swimmers' Expectations Remain High

Expectations don’t change for the Minnetonka boys swimming team. Each year the Skippers’ goal is to win a state title.

So despite graduating a sizable number from last year’s state championship team and ushering in a new coach, that goal has not changed.

Minnetonka is all-in again this year, and they’ve got the determination to make it happen.

“I remember my freshman to sophomore year, we lost a lot of guys and we had taken second my freshman year,” senior Eric Sirjord said. “We took second our sophomore year also. Guys come up the ranks. It’s just how the team functions. This year it looks like we’ve lost a lot, but we’ve got guys who can fill in.”

The Skippers edged Eden Prairie by 5.5 points at last years Class AA state meet, and they will need to replace their departed seniors who helped make that possible. Of the team’s 16 entrants who made it to the championship or consolation heats, Minnetonka lost four swimmers who competed in nine events—including three swimmers off their 400 freestyle relay and three swimmers off their 200 freestyle relay.

But first-year coach Ben Whitcomb said the program not only has a strong group of returning upperclassmen from a year ago, but it also has younger swimmers ready to fill the role.

Senior Kendall Dunn reached state in the 200 IM, 200 medley relay and the 100 breaststroke last year, Sirjord competed at state in the 500 freestyle and junior Noah Busch competed on the 200 medley relay, 400 freestyle relay, 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke a year ago.

Combine those three with junior Dan Bielski’s strong backstroke and breaststroke, Trent Youngdahl’s state experience in the 200 medley relay and a mix of underclassmen ready to step up, and the Skippers feel confident about their chances this winter.

“We’ve got such high expectations of being Minnetonka and being state champions,” Busch said. “These kids are constantly looking up to us saying we want to be like them. It’s like there are always kids trying really hard coming up.”

Whitcomb said the tradition speaks for itself.

“If you’re going to coach high school swimming in Minnesota, this is one of the dream jobs,” he said. “There’s history going back a long way into the ‘80s with state titles, state and national records individually.”

With newcomers in the pool and a new head coach leading the squad this winter, changes are visible on the Skippers roster. But one thing Minnetonka doesn’t expect to change is their ability to compete with the best in the state come March.

“As long as you buy into what you're doing, you’re going to be successful,” Busch said. “As long as you believe in your training and the people around you, it’s going to be good.”