By Steve Webb
webb@postbulletin.com
If the same names keep popping up in a lot of events when Rochester John Marshall's boys swim team competes this season, there is good reason.
The Rockets barely have enough swimmers to maintain the team.
"We'll have enough," said longtime coach Paul Bachman. "We have 10 right now."
ADVERTISEMENT
Bachman said this is the smallest team since he began coaching there in 1986. He said eight swimmers is the absolute minimum you need to maintain a team.
"You have to have at least one relay," he said.
Things are better at the other two public schools. Mayo and Century will have co-coaches this season and numbers are up.
Veteran coach Kent Quackenbush will continue as one of the coaches and will be joined by Dale Magnuson.
"I have been coaching at Century since they started and I didn't want to just walk away from them," said Quackenbush, who has been retired from teaching for three years.
He coached both teams last season, though they swam as separate teams and will again this season. In fact, the teams will open the season against each other on Thursday.
Century has 22 swimmers and Mayo 15.
Century will be one of the favorites to win the Big Nine championship, despite losing some good swimmers to graduation.
ADVERTISEMENT
Rochester John Marshall
Coach: Paul Bachman
Assistant: Scott Diercks. Diving: Rich Ballard.
Outlook: The Rockets don't have the depth or experience to win many meets, though they should win some individual events. Junior John Delmundo went to state last year in the breast stroke and individual medley events. Junior Aaron Triebenbach just missed going to state last year in the breast stroke. Greg Thompson is sophomore, but in his first year on the JM team. He has been a club swimmer and should help the team in distance events and butterfly.
Roster
Seniors: Todd Becker, John Farmer, Will Sherman.
Juniors: Bobby Croghun (diver), John Delmundo, Aaron Triebenbach.
Sophomores: Matt Banks, Alexander Novitsky, Alex Plaetzer. Ninth grade: Kendrick Bachman, Greg Thompson.
ADVERTISEMENT
Schedule:
Dec. 8 -- at Winona
Dec. 15 -- Mankato West
Dec. 17 -- at Albert Lea (Tiger Relays)
Dec. 20 -- at Albert Lea
Dec. 22 -- Mankato East
Jan. 5 -- Century
; Jan. 7 -- at Austin (Packer Invite)
Jan. 10 -- at Northfield
Jan. 12 -- at Austin
Jan. 14 -- Invitational at Recreation Center
Jan. 26 -- Mayo
Jan. 31 -- Faribault
Feb. 2 -- at Owatonna
Feb. 7 -- at Farmington
Feb. 11 -- Big Nine Conference meet
Feb. 22-24 -- Section tournament
Rochester Century
Coaches: Kent Quackenbush and Dale Magnuson.
Diving: Greg Andrews
Outlook: The Panthers have the talent to be a very good team and will be one of the favorites to win the Big Nine championship. They have depth and some experience. Some of the swimmers to watch are senior Peter Heidorn, who qualified for the state meet the last two years; Matt Chida, a sophomore who went to state last year; Alex Kiel, a sophomore who qualified for state last year in the 500 freestyle. Dan Lee, Landon Jacobsen, Logan Manlove, Ryan Rush and Alex Colborn all should provide scoring.
Roster
Seniors: Pete Heidorn, Bob Hocraffer, Landon Jacobsen, Alex Colborn.
Juniors: Jake Gabriel, Tylor Johanns, Matt Massaro, Ryan Rush.
Sophomores: Jared Anderson, Carl Berquist, Matt Chida, Alex Gilliland, Alex Kiel, Jordan Kleen, Dan Lee, Logan Manlove.
Ninth-graders: Stephane Chartier, Jarck Kuehn, Mickey Stevens, Mark Strom.
Eighth-grader: Dan Stiving.
Seventh-grader: Robert Real.
Schedule
Dec. 8 -- Mayo
Dec. 15 -- at Faribault
Dec. 17 -- at Albert Lea
Dec. 20 -- Owatonna
Dec. 22 -- at Red Wing
Jan. 5 -- at John Marshall
Jan. 7 -- at Austin (Packer Invite)
Jan. 9 -- at Mankato East
Jan. 12 -- Mankato West
Jan. 14 -- Invitational at Recreation Center
Jan. 19 -- at Albert Lea
Jan. 26 -- Winona
Jan. 31 -- Austin
Feb. 11 -- Big Nine meet at Mankato
Feb. 22-24 -- Section tournament
Rochester Mayo
Coaches: Kent Quackenbush and Dale Magnuson.
Diving: Greg Andrews.
Outlook: The Spartans will be somewhat inexperienced and small, but with some talent. Gone is state qualifier Tyler Davis from last year. His family moved. Junior Luke Fluegel, who was an all-state swimmer last year in the 50 freestyle, has some shoulder problems, but will continue to compete. Garrett Byrne, a sophomore, has improved a lot and should help the team. Sophomore Herbie Rosen could also step forward.
Roster
Seniors: Mohammed Gaafar, Brent Jewell.
Juniors: Trevor Barker, Luke Fluegel, Keegan McCaskie, Nick Housmans.
Sophomores: Garrett Byrne, Aric Mann, Herbie Rosen, Jeff Ulsh, James Williams.
Ninth-graders: Peter Craig, Joseph Lund, Jonathan Oullette, Christopher White.
Eighth-grader: Zach Einck.
Schedule
Dec. 8 -- at Century
Dec. 15 -- Austin
Dec. 17 -- at Albert Lea
Dec. 20 -- at Mankato East
Dec. 22 -- at Red Wing
Jan. 5 -- Winona
Jan. 7 -- At Austin (Packer Invite)
Jan. 10 -- at; Faribault
Jan. 14 -- Invitational at Recreation Center
Jan. 20 -- Owatonna
Jan. 26 -- at John Marshall
Jan. 31 -- at Mankato West
Feb. 2 -- Albert Lea
Feb. 11 -- Big Nine Conference meet
Feb. 22-24 -- Section tournament
