As the Austin boys' swimming and diving team wrapped up its final preparations for the Section 1A meet, the mood around the pool was loose and confident. After a fourth-place finish at the Big Nine Conference meet two weeks ago, an experienced Packer squad seems poised to make some waves up north.

"Our three relay teams are our strength, along with our divers," said AHS head coach Lynn Gulbrandson, "and I'd say that we plan on getting them all to state. They all have the experience to do well tomorrow."

Leading the way are the 200- and 400-yard freestyle teams, both of which qualified for state last year. The 200 returns seniors Ethan Simonson, Levi Van Pelt, and Derek Hall, with Josh Hall stepping in for the since-departed Joe Bauer. His younger brother Carl anchors the 400 team, along with Simonson, Van Pelt, and Jacob Rausch.

Finally, the 200 medley relay is hoping to earn the state berth they narrowly missed last year. They return the entire squad of Chase Kusterer, Erik Sherman, and seniors Ben Petersen and Derek Hall.

"They'll be lots of good competition at sections," said Petersen, "which helps us," said Hall, "because it gives us an incentive to swim our best too."

"Sections are mostly about going for individual times," said Simonson, "so that's going to be our main focus tomorrow.

"We're looking to get all three relays and two divers through to state, at least."

On the diving side, senior Beau Webber is looking to improve on his fifth-place finish in last year's state meet. While on paper he would seem to be a lock to advance at sectionals, he will have to overcome a sinus infection and the flu, which have left him less than full strength going in.

"As long as I can get through tomorrow and finish in the top four," Webber said, "I'll be ready by the state meet."

Webber might have some company in Minneapolis this year, as teammate Ryan O' Leary could use his All-Conference finish at the Big Nine as a proverbial springboard to state qualifying.

The Section 1A meet begins with preliminaries today at noon and continues Saturday with the finals at Inver Grove Heights.

Section 1A:

Teams--Albert Lea, Austin, Farmington, Mankato East, Mankato West, Minnesota State Academy for the Blind, Northfield, Prior Lake, Red Wing, Richfield, St. Paul Humboldt, St. Thomas Academy, Simley, South St. Paul.