Welcome Athletes and Families to the Duluth High School Boys Swim & Dive Team!!
The boys team is a combined team of Duluth East and Duluth Denfeld. .jpg)
The boys swim team has experienced a lot of growth and success over the last several years and we expect that growth and success to continue well into the future.
Our Swim and Dive Team is broken into two general subgroups: Varsity and Junior Varsity (JV). There are different expectations for Varsity vs JV swimmers when it comes to practices, and some swim meets are varsity only meets. Exactly which team members are Varsity or JV can fluctuate from meet to meet.
At dual swim meets, we are allowed three varsity individual swimmers in each event. In addition, we can have three entries of every four-swimmer relay (200 Medley relay, 200 Free relay, 400 Free Relay). We are typically allowed a junior varsity heat or heats as well.
At larger multi-school invitationals, we are typically allowed 3-4 swimmers per individual event, and there are no JV entries allowed. At invitationals, we are allowed 1-4 relays per relay event, depending on the meet hosts requirements. On occasion, we may be allowed to enter a jv swimmer or relay if there are open lanes and we are allowed to fill out heats.
| Varsity This is the group of swimmers that are typically veteran swimmers and/or those that have seed times that allow them to be one of the 3-4 fastest swimmers on the team per an individual event. Varsity team members are expected to practice every day after school and encouraged to attend morning practice as scheduled. Junior Varsity This group of swimmers consists of those that do not typically swim in varsity individual events at dual meets, meaning they do not have one of the three or four top entry seed times from our own team for that event. It is common that swimmers move between varsity and JV depending on the meet and our opponent. JV swimmers are expected to attend all afternoon practices, however, morning practice is optional. JV swimmers may not swim in all meets, as some meets have limited or no entries for JV and relays. |
- Swimming and Diving 101
- 2024-2025 Season Dates
- Contact Information
- Captains
- Web Site
- High School Registration - East and Denfeld
- Team Fees and Purchases
- Program Definition
- Expectations
- Practice Schedule
- Meet Schedule
- Meet Transportation
- Lettering Criteria
- Required Equipment
- Attendance Requirements
Swimming and Diving 101
We swim in two types of meets: 1. dual meets, typically taking place on Tuesday or Thursday evenings; and 2. Invitationals that are multipole team meets, typically held on Saturdays. Home meets are held at both Lincoln Park and Ordean East Middle Schools. For dual meets, each school enters 3 swimmers in each individual event and 3 relay teams in each relay event. Most of the pools are 8 lane pools, but there are a few that are 4 or 6 lanes, in which case the number entered may be higher or lower. If a team has more than 3 swimmers entered they are entered as exhibition. Dual meets typically alternate between Junior Varsity and Vasity heats of the same event. THere are no JV heats at invitationals.
Swimmers may enter a maximum of four events, no more than two of which can be individual events. The coach determines who swims which events.
The order of events is always the same in high school meets. Most meets have multiple heats per event - Junior Varsity and exhibition, followed by Varsity.
- 200 yd Medley Relay
- 200 yd Freestyle
- 200 yd Individual Medley
- 50 yd Freestyle
- Diving (preceded and followed by a 10-15 minute warm-up period)
- 100 yd Butterfly
- 100 yd Freestyle
- 500 yd Freestyle
- 200 yd Freestyle Relay
- 100 yd Backstroke
- 100 yd Breaststroke
- 400 yd Freestyle Relay
Points are awarded based on place. For relays, only 2 relay teams are allowed to score per relay event per school team. For individual events, only 3 individuals are allowed to score per event per school team.
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Points
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Place
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Relays
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Individual Events
& Diving
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1
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8
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6
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2
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4
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4
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3
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2
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3
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4
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-
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2
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5
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1
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6
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Scoring: Varsity points from the relays, individual events & diving are added. Once a team scores 94 points they have enough points to win the meet. Many coaches will swim exhibition after they pass the 94 point mark so they don’t run up the score.
Dual Meets – 6 Dives are Required
- One voluntary dive and five optional dives for a total of six dives per dual meet
- Voluntary dives: are the simpler ones, such as a front dive, a back dive, a reverse dive, or an inward dive.
- Each week, the voluntary dive that must be performed changes. The first meet, a front must be done as the voluntary; the second meet, a back; the third meet, a reverse; the fourth meet, an inward; the fifth meet, a twister; and that cycle continues until the dual meet season is over.
- Optional Dives: Optional dives can be any dive except the one performed for the voluntary dive
- For example, if you perform a front dive for your voluntary dive, you may use a back dive, a reverse dive, or an inward dive for your optionals, as well as any other dive that is listed in the State High School League list of dives
Invitational, Sections or State Meets – 11 Dives are Required
SCORING
The diving competition is scored as an individual event and the top 5 scores earn points the same as an individual swim event: 6-4-3-2-1.
The judging is comprised of three judges, one from each team’s coaching staff, and one official. Each dive, no matter what it is, is assigned a degree of difficulty based on how difficult the dive is to perform. There is a very long formula to figure out each dive’s degree of difficulty; the more difficult the dive is, the larger multiplier will be applied to the judge’s scores. This gives the divers an incentive to perform the more difficult dives. Each dive’s total score is added up to get a final score, which then determines the final ranking of the divers.
DIVE GROUPS
There are six groups of dives. The first four are classified by the direction the diver rotates.
1. 100’s Forward group: The diver faces the front of the board and rotates toward the water
2. 200’s Backward group: Dives in the backward group begin with the diver on the end of the board, with his or her back to the water, so as to rotate away from the board
3. 300’s Reverse group: Formerly called “gainers,” these dives begin with the diver facing the front of the board but then rotates toward the board (300’s)
4. 400’s Inward group: The diver stands on the end of the board with his or her back to the water and rotates toward the board, entering the water facing the other end of the pool
5. 5xxx’s Twisting group: Any dive that uses a twist. There are four types of twists: forward, backward, reverse, and inward (diving number starts with a 5 followed by the 3-digit dive number)
BODY POSITIONS
A dive may be performed using one of the following four positions.
Pike: The legs are straight with the body bent at the waist.
Tuck: The Body is bent at the waist and knees, with thighs drawn to the chest and heels kept close to the buttocks. Feet and knees should be kept together and toes should be pointed.
Straight: No bend at the waist or knees. Depending on the dive, there may be an arch in the back. Arm placement is the diver’s choice or is defined by the dive performed.
Free: Indicates the diver’s option to use any of the above three positions, or combinations thereof, when performing a twisting dive.
FIVE BASIC ELEMENTS OF A DIVE
When judging a dive, five basic elements need to be considered with equal importance before awarding a score.
- Starting Position: Depending on the dive, the diver should be standing straight with the head erect and the arms straight and steady in a position of the diver's choice.
- The Approach: The diver shall move to the end of the springboard in a smooth motion showing good form. Using no less than three steps, the diver shall execute a forward hurdle from the last step.
- The Take-Off: The take-off should show proper balance and control, and it should initiate the diver into a safe distance from the board. The diver must leave the springboard from both feet.
- The Flight: The flight of the dive should be smooth and graceful and at no time should the dive move to the left or the right of the springboard. During the dive, the body shall be carried in one of the four acceptable positions: tuck, pike, straight, or free.
- The Entry: The entry into the water, whether it is a head-first or feet-first entry, shall be vertical or as close to vertical as possible. The diver’s body shall be straight, the legs together, and the toes pointed.
Invitationals: Multiple teams are invited to a meet usually with the same standard order of events as a dual meet. Scoring varies based on the type of invitational, how many team entries are accepted, and how many places score.
True Team Section and True Team State Meet: This meet is designed and scored to test a team’s depth. Teams can enter four individuals and four relays in each event. All competitors score points in every event. The teams competing are the same teams that are in the section, although teams may choose to not participate. The top team qualifies for the True Team State Meet which is held the following weekend. These meets are organized and run by a group of swimming and diving coaches via the Minnesota State High School Coaches Association (MSHSCA).
Sections: Sections are organized & run by the Minnesota State High School League (MSHSL). Each team may enter four individual entries and one relay per event. At this meet, athletes swim their strongest events in a preliminary session on Day 1. The top 16 swimmers and relay teams in each event advance to finals on Day 2. Qualifiers, place of 9-16, swim in a consolation heat. The top 8 compete in the championship heat. Medals are awarded to the top eight swimmers and a podium-ceremony is done following each event. A swimmer or relay may only qualify for state competition during the consolation and championship finals on Day 2.
State Meet (MSHSL): The top two finishers, along with any other competitors who swim a qualifying state time in each event at section finals, qualify for the Minnesota State High School Championship Meet. The State Meet is held at the University of MN Aquatic Center. The meet is a prelims/finals format over three days (Day 1 = Diving, Day 2 = Swimming Prelims, Day 3 = Swimming and Diving Finals). It is a great achievement to qualify for this meet celebrating the state’s top swimmers & divers.
MSHSL SWIMMING RULES
2025-2026 Season Dates
Preseason Parent/Athlete meeting: October 30, 2025
Denfeld: 4pm in the Commons Area near Library
East: 6:30 pm in the Library Media Center
Captains Practices: TBD
First Day of Practice: November 24th
First Meet: December 4th
Season Ends: Mid- to Late February depending on qualifying for sections/state meet
Contact Information
| Cliff Knettel, Head Coach [email protected] 218-260-0209 |
William Zwak, Activities Director William.zwak@isd709.org 218-336-8845 ext 2182 |
Assistant Coaches
Kerri Persons, Assistant Coach/Diving Coach
Jason Hanson, Assistant Swim Coach
Kenji Sudoh, Assistant Swim Coach
Volunteer Assistant Coaches: Adam Roub, Lucas Nichols-Crawford, Joe Rudd
Captains
Keegan Persons
Lucas Warren
Joey Zelen
Web Site
The website serves as the "go-to" for many questions that might arise. Links to the schedule, results, contact information, and more will be available. Additionally, the website is used to send out team reminders and notifications. The volunteers coordinators will rely on the website to sign up workers for all home meets. Food signup for potlucks etc. will become available.
If you have questions about the website, please contact Cliff Knettel at [email protected] or 218-260-0209 .
Duluth Registration & Fees
In order to participate on the first day of practice, the following must be completed:
1. REGRISTRATION AND ACTIVITY FEE
- School District Activity Fee – Swimming and Diving: $235
East/Ordean students can fill out registration forms and pay fees online by going https://dulutheast.isd709.org/activities-athletics/athletic-registration-forms-fees. Use that same link for forms including sports physical, travel reslease, fee payment instructions or hardship/benefit application.
Denfeld/Lincoln students can fill out registration forms and pay fees online by going to https://denfeld.isd709.org/activities-athletics/athletic-registration. Use that same link for forms including sports physical, travel release, fee payment instructions or hardship/benefit application.
- Student and parents must be present to register
- Must use students' school Google Chrome account
- Payment occurs online through the Parent Portal
*Transfer/Foreign Exchange Students must come in to the Activities Office to begin their registration process.
2. SPORTS PHYSICAL
All students participating in MSHSL sanctioned sports are required to have a Sports Qualifying Physical on file with the school you attend Duluth East and Duluth Denfeld High Schools. This form is good for THREE YEARS of participation from the date of the exam and must be current through the end of your sport participation season. Click here for a form you can take to your doctor to fill out.
3. TEAM CONTRIBUTION
This is a voluntary contribution that is based on the average per-swimmer cost paid by the Booster club. This voluntary contribution is paid to the Booster Club, and covers items such as team suits, team swim caps, equipment, bussing costs, banquet, meals at swim meets, etc. For 2025-26, the voluntary contribution is $XX and that can be paid for by volunteering at team fundraising events, you can pay out of pocket, or a combination of both. You must keep track on your own your level of volunteer fundrasing and make the difference contribution based on your own estimation. More details will be presented at a later time.
Team Fees and Purchases
- Contribuition (Optional) - We have an optional team contribution of $XX (described in previous section) that goes directly to the Booster Club to help pay for team suits, transportation upgrades, custom silicone team swim caps, equipment purchases and other team expenses.
- Team Apparel (optional). Team captains have designed items and set up a team store. More to come.
Our program will be defined by the following:
- Perseverance
- Self-discipline
- Ethical behavior
- Ability to work with others
- Leadership qualities
- An understanding of the importance of physical health and fitness
- Goal-setting and follow-through skills
- Positive self-image
- The experience of competition
- Good sportsmanship
Expectations
Athlete Expectations
Our athletes will be committed to upholding themselves to these standards. Athletes will...
- Attend and be on time to all practices required of them.
- Maintain a high level of commitment to themselves, their team, and their school. They will make positive decisions that will help them to achieve their goals.
- Treat their teammates, coaches, opponents, officials, and themselves with respect.
- Respect our facilities.
- Maintain a positive attitude and a growth mindset; always striving to reach new heights with each day.
- Understand the importance of the TEAM.
- Follow all team, school district, MSHSL, MDE and MDH COVID-19 Protocols as applicable.
Parent Expectations
Parents are expected to provide:
- Volunteers for home meets: Organizing and running concession stands, ticket table, coaches room (invitational), back up timers, etc.
- Support for pot lucks/spaghetti feeds prior to Saturday meets and Section Prelims.
- Support for team fundraising activities.
- Support for the team, the coaching staff, and their athlete.
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End of year banquet
- Follow all team, school district, MSHSL, MDE and MDH COVID-19 Protocols.
Coaches Expectations of Athletes
- Be respectful to everyone.
- Follow all rules and policies of the MSHSL and ISD 709, they are part of the forms you signed.
- BE ON TIME!
- Captains are extensions of the coaches. Captains, you are leaders. Make decisions based on rules and policies and what is good for all.
- Complete all of the workout unless special circumstances arise (other commitments, extra studying or attention to homework needed).
- Open Communication.
Away Trips/Meets
- There will be no overnight trips with exception of the State Meet held one week after the sections.
- High School Swimmers:Coaches are responsible for releasing kids from school.This only applies to swimmers in High School, grades 9 -12.
- Middle schools students--it is THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PARENT TO CALL IN TO EXCUSE SWIMMERS AND GET THEM TO PICK UP POINTS.
- Bus pick- up and Drop off points: Duluth East Main Entrance and Duluth Denfeld Gym Doors. Middle school students/parents will need to arrange for rides to pick up points.
- Parents PLEASE be at the school when we return. It is normally late and cold (we do not have access to school when we get back). No one likes to wait outside. It’s easier for you to wait in a warm car versus your child waiting for you in the cold. Coaches will tell the kids when we are approx. ½ hour from school so they may contact parents for timely pick-up.
- If you plan to drive your athlete yourself to or from a meet, you must fill out and submit a travel reslease form.
Practice Schedule
SWIMMING & DIVING
- All in-the-pool practices, except for Saturdays are at Ordean East Middle School
- Meets will be held at both pools, check schedules, weekly emails, and facebook posts.
- Athletes will participate in practice until after their final competition.
| November 24th - Feb 21st (schedule will change for those moving on to Section meet) | ||
| Monday-Friday | JV/DIVING: 4:00-5:30 @ Ordean and VARSITY DRYLAND (at Ordean) 4:00-4:45: & VARSITY SWIM: 4:45-6:45 PM @ Ordean | |
| Monday/Wednesday/Friday | OPTIONAL SWIM: 6:45-8:00 AM @ Ordean starting Dec. 1st | |
| Saturdays | November 29 (Ordean), Dec. 13 (Ordean), Dec. 27, (Ordean) Feb 14 (Ordean), 9-noon | |
| Holidays and Breaks: | ||
| November 28: | 9am-noon only, at Ordean | |
| December 8: | 3:30-6:45pm, no morning practice, at Ordean | |
| Christmas Break: | Dec 22, 23 3:30-6:45 only, at Ordean Dec 26, 27 9am to noon only, at Ordean Dec 29, 30, Jan 2 from 3:30 - 6:45 pm only, no mornings, all at Ordean |
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| December 24, 25; Jan 1: Jan 16: Jan 19: |
Practice on your own (school pools not available) 3:30-6:45pm only (no morning) 3:30-6:45pm only (no morning) |
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| Winter Break |
Feb 16 - 20: 3:30-6:30 | |
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Meet Schedule/State Meet
THE MEET SCHEDULE IS FOUND HERE
To qualify for the State Meet, an athlete must do one of two things:
- Place 1st or 2nd in a swimming event at the Varsity Section Meet
- Place 1-4th in diving at the Varsity Section Meet
- Swim a qualifying time in the Finals at the Varsity Section Meet
Click HERE to see this year's qualifying standards to for the State Meet.
Meet Transportation
All athletes are expected to ride with the team to and from away meets. The team bus will leave from and return to Duluth East for all away meets unless otherwise noted. If a parent/guardian wishes to drive their athlete to or from a meet, a travel release form must be filled out and provided to the coach prior to the event.
East/Ordean students, for forms including sports physical, travel reslease, fee payment instructions or hardship/benefit application, click https://dulutheast.isd709.org/activities-athletics/athletic-registration-forms-fees.
Denfeld/Lincoln students for forms including sports physical, travel reslease, fee payment instructions or hardship/benefit application, click https://denfeld.isd709.org/activities-athletics/2024-25-athletic-registration.
Lettering and Awards
Letters stand for commitment, performance, and leadership. Coach has final say on the earning of a letter. The coaching staff will use the following requirements:
- Be a swimmer in good standing and with the program for a full season.
- Have zero drug, alcohol, and tobacco violations as according to MSHSL.
- Demonstrate proper behavior and sportsmanship throughout the season.
- Swimmers must acheive a qualiying time in at least one event, or
- Complete their senior season on the team foolowing a total of four years of participation, or
- Finish in the top 16 in a swimming event or top 1/2 of diving participants in the Section 7AA meet.
- Lettering standard qualification times are based on the top 16 times from the previous year:
- 200 yd Freestyle: 2:05.96
- 200 yd Individual Medley: 2:19.40
- 50 yd Freestyle: :24.19
- 100 yd Butterfly: 1:01.57
- 100 yd Freestyle: :54.25
- 500 yd Freestyle: 5:42.39
- 100 yd Backstroke: 1:06.08
- 100 yd Breaststroke: 1:09.95
Awards voted on by team members:
- Most Improved
- Most Dedicated/Hardest Worker
- Rookie of the Year
- Most Valuable
- Coaches Award - given to a team member(s) that deserves special recognition for achievement, resiliency or perseverance.
Awards sponsored by other organizations:
- All Conference
- 7AA Swimmer and Diver of the Year
- All State
- All American
Required Equipment
Required Equipment
- Practice suit - no current year team suits (use your previous year team suit)
- Cap and at least two pairs of goggles - no current year team caps at practice
- Snorkel (if you have one)
- Water bottle - stock up on these, they get lost often
At meets: Please only wear Duluth Team cap/suit/warmups at meets.
Attendance Policy
Being a member of the team demonstrates that you have made a commitment to the success of the program. This success requires each member to be reliable and work towards our goals. Attending all practices, meets, and team functions is mandatory and the first part of this commitment. The head coach has the final say on all absences and any repercussions.
- All team members must arrive on time for all practices, meets, and team functions.
- If you know in advance that you wont be attending a meet, you must write your name next to that meet name on the white board at Ordean
- The coaching staff must be notified by noon the day of an absence and earlier if known prior. Coach contact information is found on this page. Include your name when sending texts.
- Excused absences are defined as the following:
- Illness/injury requiring the athlete to miss school or leave school early or not physically be able to complete the workout or meet.
- Other school or swimming and diving reasons communicated and approved in advance with the head coach.
Competition Policy
This competition policy applies for all meets except Sections and State:
- Illness, injury, and school-related absences
- You must attend and complete practice prior to competition in order to compete. The head coach has the final say in this decision.
- Serious injury or illness
- If practice isn’t completed for more than three days consecutively, you must attend and complete three days of practices after the absences in order to compete. The head coach has the final say in this decision.
- Holiday and winter break extended absences-
- Athletes are required to practice during the time away. Swimming workouts can be provided by the coaches. If a pool is not available, dryland workouts are good substitutes. Jogging, biking, weightlifting or combination workouts can be provided. If expectations of the head coach are met, no competitions will be missed.
ISD 709 Participation Requirements:
MSHSL AND ISD709 CHEMICAL/BEHAVIOR/ACADEMIC GUIDELINES
