EP boys swim and dive kicks off season with new coach, win over Buffalo

The Eagles boys varsity swim and dive team started off the season with a strong win over Buffalo High School.

Competing in their home pool at the Eden Prairie Aquatic Center on Friday, Dec. 15, the Eden Prairie High School team emerged victorious 99-79.

The team was led by new head coach Sam Kendall, who was previously at Eastview High School. Kendall replaced longtime coach Kelly Boston, who retired after leading the boys to win the Lake Conference and State Championships last season. New assistant coach Eva Potvin and returning dive coach Kelly Derouin were also on deck to guide the team.

Kendall said he was happy with how the meet went, especially since the team has been training heavily.

“It all started off with a first-place 200 medley relay with Finn Aaberg, Eli Drewes, Eshaan Salunke, and Brian Shi,” he said. “This was a great way to lead off the meet and a great race.”

The team then went on to win six more swim events. Kendall highlighted a few impressive achievements:

• Sophomore Eshaan Salunke took first in the 200 IM and 100 breast.
• Freshman Ryan Altawil placed second in the 200 free, first in the 500 free, and anchored the winning 200 free relay.
• Freshman Aditya Madireddy swept the junior varsity events in which EP competed (200 medley relay, 200 IM, 100 back).

Meet results

The team won points for finishes in first, second, and third place. Varsity results for the Eagles were as follows:

200 medley relay
First: Finn Aaberg, Eli Drewes, Eshaan Salunke, Brian Shi (1:43.99)
Third: Zak Oachani, Abhi Madireddy, Caleb Singewald, Mark Derouin (1:48.63)

200 free
Second: Ryan Altawil (1:50.87)
Third: Vincent Schulze (1:54.61)

200 IM
First: Eshaan Salunke (2:06.27)
Third: Zak Oachani (2:08.41)

50 free
First: Luke Anderson (22.88)
Second: Mark Derouin (23.42)
Third: Finn Aaberg (25.10)

1 meter diving
Second: Jonah Watanabe (142.90)
Third: Sawyer Kevan (124.70)

100 fly
Second: Abhi Madireddy (57.73)

100 free
Second: Brian Shi (49.22)

500 free
First: Ryan Altawil (5:02.30)
Second: Zack McBeth (5:10.28)

200 free relay
First: Luke Anderson, Vincent Schulze, Brian Shi, Ryan Altawil (1:33.91)
Second: Abhi Madireddy, Eli Drewes, Zack McBeth, Mark Derouin (1:37.09)
Third (Exhibition): Huijae Kim, Aidan Harris, Charlie Strehl, Jack Kevan (1:40.82)

100 backstroke
First: Zak Ouachani (59.64)
Third: Finn Aaberg (1:00.03)

100 breast (EP had the top three times, but switched to exhibition. This meant EP already had enough points to win and so did not claim any further points.)
First (Exhibition): Eshaan Salunke (1:03.95)
Second (Exhibition): Eli Drewes (1:05.47)
Third (Exhibition): Abhi Madireddy (1:06.15)

400 free relay (Top two times)
First (Exhibition): Luke Anderson, Vincent Schulze, Ryan Altawil, Brian Shi (3:31.93)
Second (Exhibition): Zack McBeth, Finn Aaberg, Zak Ouachani, Eshaan Salunke (3:34.94)

Next meet is Jan. 5 against Wayzata

The team next squares up against Wayzata High School in an away meet at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 5, at Life Time Fitness in Plymouth.