The Border Battle Invitational Brings Cougar Athletes Closer Together

Max Scheurer was awarded the meet's 3th top point earner for individual swimmers at the Border Battle Invitational held in Fargo, ND on January 7, 2023. Max placed first in the 100 Breaststroke and second in the 200 IM.  Other Cougars that helped Centennial earn its fifth place ranking out of twelve teams were: George Atkinson, Alex Larkin, Ben Condon, Isaac Nguyen, Joesph Murray, Tyler Celotta, Manny Poscher, Garrett Clark, Benno Schubauer and Charlie Bryant.

After the meet, Centennial diving Coach Lee Raihle pointed out that Junior Captain Tyler Celotta had a fantastic meet by improving his personal best diving score by 58.5 points and placing eighth out of twenty divers.  His new personal best score of 254.20 for 11 dives now places him as number 7 on the Centennial Swimming and Diving All Time Top 10 List.  

During the four-hour bus ride back to Blaine, MN, Head Coach Pete Crawford told the team that this invitational was placed in the schedule as a team bonding and fun experience.  He asked his athletes if this goal was met and was given an overwhelming “YES” by the swimmers.  Besides the excitement of competing against North Dakota and western Minnesota athletes, the Centennial Swimming Booster Club sponsored event included travel in a coach bus, a pizza dinner and an evening at the Ninja Academy for an hour of Ninja Warrior obstacle training.  Many of the team members also spiced up the overnight meet experience by plunging themselves in a bathtub full of ice and then dashing to hotel’s hot tub to regain their lost body heat.  How could this not be fun!

Team Rankings:

• Fargo Davies High School – 329
• Grand Forks Knight Riders – 264
• Sauk Rapids Rice – 262
• Melrose/Sauk Center – 212
• Centennial – 211
• West Fargo Packers – 211
• Fergus Falls – 189
• Andover High School – 179
• West Fargo Sheyenne – 175
• Bemidji – 110
• Detroit Lakes Lakers – 78
• Morris Area / Chokio-Alberta - 44