Lakeville Boys swim and dive team dedicates last home meet to Scott Proudfoot
Both Lakeville boys swimming and diving team and Dive Teams were victorious on Feb. 2 with Lakeville North defeating Bloomington Jefferson 96-75 and Lakeville South defeating Kennedy 95-30. Several lifetime bests were achieved at the meet, which was dedicated to former swimmer, Scott Proudfoot who was a swimming star during his time on the team.
Proudfoot graduated from Lakeville in 2006 when the Lakeville team had an unbeaten season and he still holds some records from that year. He suffered a severe spinal cord injury last July and is paralyzed from the breastbone down. He had just graduated from college and secured his first job when he fell into Lake Marion last summer at his parent’s home. He has been working hard through his journey of rehabilitation and is scheduled to come home to the family’s newly remodeled home on February 10, when the elevator installation and revamping are expected to be completed.
The teams contributed all fundraiser and concession money to Proudfoot and had a donation basket set up to assist with the heavy medical expenses involved with his rehabilitation. More than $2500 was raised, which will provide him with 14 sessions on the Therastride machine.
“I was thrilled with the support that the Lakeville Swimming and Diving community showed for Scott Proudfoot,” coach Rick Ringeisen said. “I have never been more proud of Lakeville swimming and diving than I was at the meet dedicated to Scott Proudfoot.
“The large crowd also inspired the boys to swim outstanding races with many posting lifetime best times.”
The crowd gave Proudfoot a standing ovation for several minutes. For more information on Scott Proudfoot and/or to make a contribution, please visit SCOTTPROUDFOOT.COM.
Swimming highlights of the evening were that Lakeville North’s 200-yard medley relay had an easy first place to start the swimming off for the night. Zach Smith, Cameron Verby, Tim Mitchell and Nick Saloka finished more than four seconds before Jefferson. The 200 IM saw Zach Smith take first, followed closely by Brandon Jensen.
The most exciting finish of North’s night was the 50 freestyle with Mitchell winning with 23.29 seconds, and Trae Schindler third with 23.71. In 100 butterfly, Hunter Burchfield was first with 55.69, followed by Ryan Young with 56.80. Schindler also won the 500 freestyle swimming with a state time at 4:48.33. In the 200 freestyle relay, North took first and second
For South, the evening also started strong with a first and second in the 200 medley relay. In the 200 freestyle, Danny Eckerson won at winning at 1:58.80. He also won the 100 freestyle. The IM was a close race with Mitch Herrera placing first at 2:12.04. He was also the champion in the backstroke. Travis Meyer won the 50 freestyle and the butterfly and Matt Alachef won the 500 freestyle.
