Even after a solid start turned into a brief nightmare for the Austin High girls swimming and diving team Friday night, the Packer swimmers were still confident they would qualify more than a handful of girls for next week’s state meet.

Saturday, November 11, 2000

Even after a solid start turned into a brief nightmare for the Austin High girls swimming and diving team Friday night, the Packer swimmers were still confident they would qualify more than a handful of girls for next week’s state meet.

"It was a confidence thing for us," Austin freshman Lauren Goettsch said. "We knew we could do well. We had a rough start, but finished well."

Goettsch and teammates Meghan Walsh, Stacy Bjorlie and Elizabeth Goskesen swam a good enough time in the 200 medley relay to qualify for the state meet. Unfortunately, the team was disqualified when an official ruled one of the team members had entered the water too early.

"We were a little anxious," Austin coach Lynn Gulbrandson said. "When you’ve got those kind of competitors, they want to go."

The Austin girls showed just what kind of competitors they are by putting the disqualfication behind them and qualifying seven swimmers and a diver for the state meet during Friday’s Section 1A finals at Ellis Middle School.

Walsh and Bjorlie each qualified in three events, while Goettsch qualified in two.

"It’s very exciting to be going," said Bjorlie, who qualified for state in the 200 freestyle, 500 freestyle and the 400 freestyle relay. "I’ve been looking forward to this all year."

Bjorlie’s time of 5:33.56 in the 500 free was good enough for third place in the section and bettered the eighth-grader’s personal best by two seconds.

"After the DQ, I knew what I had to do and I did it," she said. "I did my best to block it out as soon as it was done."

Austin’s lone senior, Sarah Heins, qualified for state in the final event of the night, the 400 free relay, along with Walsh, Bjorlie and Goettsch. Heins missed qualifying times in two other events Friday, so Goettsch said it was added motivation for the 400 free relay team to see that their senior captain made a return trip to state.

"We all know Sarah well and have confidence in her," Goettsch said, "and all of the girls in the 400 (relay) dropped seconds off of their time."

Also advancing to state for the Packers are: Tristen Kusterer (200 free relay); Amanda Martin (200 free relay); Lisa Champlin (200 free relay); and Danielle Chapek (diving).

Chapek placed third overall in the diving competition after entering Friday’s finals in second place.

Red Wing won the overall team title with a score of 360. Northfield was second, followed by Mankato West, and Austin was fourth with 263 points.

The state meet runs Nov. 20-22 at the University of Minnesota Aquatic Center in Minneapolis.