If you’ve been looking for a quiet winter, you clearly haven’t been near the pool deck. 

Over the last few weeks, the Prior Lake boys swim and dive team has torn through the water, racking up conference wins and rewriting the record books in opposing pools.

Led by a heavy-hitting roster of senior captains and a surging group of underclassmen, the Lakers have moved to 3-0 in the South Suburban Conference while posting podium finishes in two major invitationals.

Here is a look back at the Lakers’ dominant December run.

Conference command

The Lakers kicked off this stretch on Dec. 12 against Lakeville South. It was a clinic in depth and speed as Prior Lake secured the victory to move to 2-0 in the conference.

Senior captain Braxton Helmers was in fine form, doubling up with wins in the 200-yard freestyle and the 100-yard breaststroke. Fellow senior captain Jamey Solt matched that energy, touching the wall first in the 200-yard individual medley and the 100-yard butterfly.

But what stood out against the Cougars was the seamless integration of the team’s youth. The quartet of Helmers, Solt, freshman Brady Shaban and 8th grader Mason Zobrack swept the freestyle relays, taking top honors in both the 200-yard and 400-yard events.

The Lakers took their show on the road Dec. 19 in Eastview to face the Lightning. The result? A decisive victory and a 3-0 conference record.

The Lakers opened the meet with a win in the 200-yard medley relay behind the team of Helmers, senior captain Owen Beaudette, Solt and Zobrack. The individual performances that followed were nothing short of electric:

• Jamey Solt dominated the distance, winning the 200-yard and 500-yard freestyle.
• Owen Beaudette showed off his sprint speed, taking the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard breaststroke.
• Nikita Ginsburg controlled the boards, winning the diving competition.

However, the headline of the night belonged to Braxton Helmers. The senior didn’t just win. He erased history, setting Eastview pool records in the 100-yard butterfly in 51.04 and the 100-yard backstroke in 52.07. 

Showcasing at invitationals

In between conference duals, the Lakers tested their mettle at two different invitational meets.

The team hosted the annual Prior Lake Invitational on Dec. 13. Despite a grueling schedule (competing fewer than 24 hours after the Lakeville South meet), the Lakers finished a strong 2nd place, trailing only the Chanhassen/Chaska Stormhawks.

Solt continued his tear, winning the 200-yard and 100-yard freestyles, while Helmers locked down the 200-yard individual medley and 100-yard butterfly. 

The relay depth was tested and proven again with the team of Solt, Helmers, Shaban and Zobrack winning the 200-yard freestyle relay and Solt, Helmers, Zobrack and freshman Ethan Fischer taking the 400-yard freestyle relay.

To cap off the year, the team packed their bags for the annual Up North Invitational in Grand Rapids on Dec. 30. Facing stiff competition, Prior Lake finished 3rd behind Chanhassen/Chaska and the hosts, Grand Rapids.

The 200-yard medley relay team of Helmers, Beaudette, Solt and junior Cameron Peterson started fast with a win. Solt (200- and 100-yard freestyle) and Helmers (200-yard individual medley and 100-yard butterfly) continued their consistent winning ways.

The standout performance in the north woods came from Owen Beaudette, who clocked a 58.23 in the 100-yard breaststroke, setting a new meet record and a new Grand Rapids pool record, on top of winning the 50-yard freestyle.

Beaudette then joined forces with Helmers, Zobrack and Solt to win the 200-yard freestyle relay, capping off a successful road trip.

Up next

The Lakers entered January with serious momentum. The senior captains are performing at an elite level, breaking pool records across the state, while the emergence of contributors like Zobrack, Shaban, Fischer and Peterson suggests the team has the depth to make a deep run when championship season arrives.

Shawn Beaudette is a parent of two athletes for the Lakers boys swimming and diving team.