Austin Packers boys swimming and diving team falls to Rochester Century 92-85 in home opener Thursday evening

The Austin Packers boys swimming and diving team played host to the Rochester Century Panthers at Bud Higgins Pool for their 2022-2023 home opener Thursday night, and it was the Panthers earning a 92-85 win.

High finishers for Austin Thursday evening included the squad’s 200 medley relay team of Winston Walkup, Lucas Meyers, Joey Hillkin and Kenny Cabeen, who were third with a time of 2:29.17.  Freshman Brent Dahl took second for the Packers in the 200 freestyle with a time of 1:55.88, and Cabeen took first for the Packers in the 50 freestyle with a time of 23.35 seconds, while Riley Ferguson earned a first-place finish in 1-meter diving with a total score of 179.65, and teammate Gage Rassmussen was third with a total of 131.25.

Joey Hillkin took second for Austin in the 100 butterfly Thursday evening with a time of 59.06 seconds, and Kenny Cabeen was third in the 100 freestyle with a time of 52.28.  Brent Dahl earned a second-place finish in the 500 freestyle with a time of 5:22.29, and the 200 freestyle relay team of Winston Walkup, Zach Evenson, Kenny Cabeen and Brent Dahl was second with a final time of 1:35.60.  Austin swept the top three spots in the 100 backstroke Thursday evening with Winston Walkup first with a time of 59.65 seconds, Zach Evenson was second with a time of 1:04.17 and Thomas Asmus took third with a time of 1:16.13, and the Packers also swept the top three spots in the 100 breaststroke with Lucas Meyers first with a time of 1:12.53, Carter Holt close behind in second at 1:12.97 and Noah Holt was third with a time of 1:27.90.  The Packers also saw their top two 400 freestyle relay teams go 1-2, with the team of Brent Dahl, Joey Hillkin, Zach Evenson and Lucas Meyers first with a final time of 3:43.39, and the team of Hunter Peters, Jackson Hillkin, Zach Voogd and Noah Holt were second with a time of 4:16.60.

Austin returns to action Saturday in an invitational hosted by Mankato East, with teams from Albert Lea, Faribault, Lakeville North, Lakeville South, Mankato West, Northfield, Owatonna, Rochester Century, Rochester John Marshall and Rochester Mayo also scheduled to compete.

The action starts at 1:00 p.m. Saturday afternoon.