Big Nine: Packers take third, Brehmer wins 100-free
Published 5:04 pm Saturday, February 9, 2013
Austin's Nick Brehmer swims in the fifth heat of the 200 yard freestyle Saturday afternoon of the Big Nine Championship at Ellis Middle School. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The Packer boys swimming and diving team had a historic day when they hosted the Big Nine meet at Ellis Middle School Austin.
Austin had its best finish in at least five years and it also had its first Big Nine champion in at least five years.
Austin's Isaac Christopherson swims in the fourth heat of the 200 yard freestyle Saturday afternoon during the Big nine Championship at Ellis Middle School. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The Packers placed third in the conference and senior Nick Brehmer took home a Big Nine title in the 100-yard freestyle as he swam the event in 49.65 seconds, which is the 18th best time in Big Nine meet history.
Brehmer had plenty of company from his teammates in the 100-freestyle as Craig Heimark took third, Ian Christopherson took fifth and Carson Hackel took sixth.
“I wasn’t expecting to win it,” Brehmer said. “It was a lot of fun to finally win something for the team and having four of the top six guys was a lot of fun. We swim less than that in dual meets.”
Christopherson also stepped up in the 50-yard freestyle for Austin as he took fourth with a time of 22.95 seconds, which was two-tenths of a second faster than his previous best time.
Christopherson said the meet brought the Packers together.
“We all know each other well and there’s a ton of team bonding,” he said. “Instead of just cheering for other people, your cheering for your friends.”
Austin’s 200-yard medley relay team of Sawyer Myers, Alex Laury, Seth Clasen and Hackel took second and the 200-yard freestyle relay team of Heimark, Christopherson, Hackel and Brehmer took second.
The 200-freestyle team had chance at first place, but Century beat them by .15 of a second.
Austin's Seth Clasen swims the butterfly portion of the 200 yard medley relay, heat four of the Big Nine Championship Saturday at Ellis Middle School. Eric Johnson/photodesk@austindailyherald.com
The 400-yard freestyle of relay took fourth Heimark, Christopherson, Hackel, and Brehmer took fourth.
“That relay wasn’t where we wanted to finish, but everywhere else we had personal bests,” Brehmer said. “We really did well.”
Austin head coach Lynn Gulbrandson was named Big Nine head coach of the year after the meet. Brehmer said Gulbrandson was wall deserving.
“He’s done really well with bringing up the younger guys,” Brehmer said. “They should have a good team for years to come, so hopefully he keeps with the program.”
Austin finished with a team score of 269. Rochester Century won its 10th straight Big Nine title with a score of 452 and Faribault took second with a score of 279.
AUSTIN RESULTS
200-medley relay: Sawyer Myers, Alex Laury, Seth Clasen, Carson Hackel (fourth, 1:47.89)
200-freestyle: Nick Brehmer (second, 1:50.03); Craig Heimark (seventh, 1:53.92); Isaac Christopherson (13th, 1:57.83)
200-individual medley: Sawyer Myers (12th, 2:15.84); Ben Carroll (13th, 2:18.41)
50-freestyle: Ian Christopherson (fourth, 22.95)
Diving: Alec Anderson (third, 324.40); Sam Deyo (16th, 184.20)
100-butterfly: Seth Clasen (ninth, 59.74); Ben Carroll (13th, 1:01.12)
100-freestyle: Nick Brehmer (first, 49.65); Craig Heimark (third, 50.61); Ian Christopherson (fifth, 5.96); Carson Hackel (sixth, 51.96)
500-freestyle: Sawyer Myers (sixth, 5:14.31); Isaac Christopherson (11th, 5:24.71)
200-freestyle relay: Craig Heimark, Ian Christopherson, Carson Hackel, Nick Brehmer (second, 1:31.81)
100-backstroke: Sam Clasen (17th, 1:06.60)
100-breaststroke: Alex Laury (10th, 1:08.26)
400-freestyle relay: Craig Heimark, Ian Christopherson, Carson Hackel, Nick Brehmer (fourth, 3:23.74)
