This weekend, some of the state’s top high school swimmers, divers and wrestlers will compete in their respective state meets, including several representing Eden Prairie High School.
Though neither the EP wrestling team or boys’ swim and dive team made it, they each will send a number of individuals to this weekend’s tournaments. The wrestlers will take the mat at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul while the swimmers enter the pool at the University of Minnesota’s Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center.
Boys’ swim and dive
The Eagles nearly won last week’s Section 2AA team competition, they came up short and finished second behind Minnetonka. However, nine individuals qualified for the state meet along with three of EP’s relay teams.
Here’s a look at who will be representing the Eagles at state:
- Yash Salunke – 200-yard freestyle, 100-yard butterfly
- Gustavo Marin – 200-yard freestyle
- Charlie Folks – 200-yard freestyle, 500-yard freestyle
- Luke Logue – 200-yard IM, 100-yard backstroke
- Wilson Ellis – 200-yard IM
- Drew Ploof – 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard butterfly
- Eric Howard – 50-yard freestyle
- Matthew Lillejord – 100-yard freestyle
- 200-yard freestyle relay team (Howard, Ellis, Lillejord, Salunke)
- 400-yard freestyle relay team (Salunke, Howard, Ploof, Logue)
- 200-yard medley relay team (Logue, Brian Shi, Ploof, Lillejord)
The tournament starts on March 4 with preliminary heats before the finals that take place the next day.
Wrestling
While the teams are the story of the state meet on Thursday, the spotlight shines on the individuals bright and early in St. Paul on Friday. Three Eagles will begin their journey on the Xcel Energy Center floor.
Jacory Bates competes at 160 pounds and opens up the tournament against Lake Conference rival Hopkins and Patrick Kubisa. Bates enters the tournament with a 23-5 record.
At 220 pounds, Julian Berg represents EP with a 15-12 record. He faces a tough opening match against Bemidji’s Nate Schwinghammer, who boasts a perfect 40-0 record.
Finally, Will Sather takes the mat in the heavyweight division. Sather has a 38-1 record and will start the tournament off against St. Cloud Tech’s Tucker Hugg.
Individual matches begin Friday and wrap up on Saturday evening with the finals.