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. 

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.  Last season we were undefeated in dual meets, took first place in two invitationals and took second place in four invitationals.  While we finished 6th at Sections, the gap between sixth and second place was only 15 points.  We have narrowed the gap significantly over the last three years! 

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. 

2018-2019 Season

Season

November 26-March 2

Winter Sports/Parent Meeting – November, 6:00 PM

The mandatory Parent/Swimmer meeting date and time is to be determined.  We will update this section and create an "Event" that will be listed on this site as well as the calendar on this site as soon as those details are known. 

Quick Links

• 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
   

Contact Information

Assistant Coaches

Cliff Knettel, Assistant Coach
cknettel@1roofhousing.org

218-260-0209                                       

Dave Malban, Assistant Coach
dsp3wood@gmail.com                                    

,TBD - Diving Coach
 

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Captains

Jack Knettel

Nelson Wennberg

Ryan 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 cknettel@1roofhousing.org or 218-260-0209 .

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Duluth Registration & Fees

In order to participate on the first day of practice, the following must be completed:

• Team Fee – Once per school year      $90
  • This fee helps cover the cost of transportation upgrades to coach busses so that swimmers can study before and after meets while riding the bus. This fee will be paid by check and given to the coaches at the team meeting or during the first week of practice. 
• School District Activity Fee – Swimming and Diving           $235

You can fill out registration forms and pay fees online by going to:  http://www.isd709.org/activities-registration

• Click on the School you attend
• Student and parents must be present to register
• Must use Google Chrome account
• Payment occurs online through the Parent Portal

*Transfer and Foreign Exchange Students cannot register online and must come in to the Activities Office to begin their registration process.

All students participating in MSHSL sanctioned sports are required to have a Sports Qualifying Physical on file with Minnetonka High School. 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. 

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Team Fees and Purchases

1. Fundraising  Fee - We have a team fee of $90 that goes directly to the team to help pay for transportation upgrades. 
2. Team Suit – team suits must be purchased by the swimmer/family. These suits are worn throughout the year at our meets.  Will provide a link to purchase these from Ellsmore.
3. Swim Cap – The Team provides swim caps with school logo and swimmer last name
4. Warm-ups - You must purchase your own warmups - this is done through Ellsmore (same link as team suits). 

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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

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Expectations

Athlete Expectations

Our athletes will be committed to upholding themselves to these standards. Athletes will...

1. Attend and be on time to all practices required of them.
2. 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.
3. Treat their teammates, coaches, opponents, officials, and themselves with respect.
4. Respect our facilities.
5. Maintain a positive attitude and a growth mindset; always striving to reach new heights with each day.
6. Understand the importance of the TEAM.

Parent Expectations

Parents are expected to provide:

1. Volunteers for home meets: Organizing and running concession stands, ticket table, coaches room (invitational and jamboree), back up timers, etc. 
2. Support for pot lucks/spaghetti feeds prior to Saturday meets and Section Prelims.
3. Support for team fundraising activities.
4. Support for the team, the coaching staff, and their athlete.
5. End of year banquet
6. Assisting with clothing orders

Coaches Expectations

1. Be respectful to everyone.
2. Follow all rules and policies of the MSHSL and ISD 709, they are part of the forms you signed.
3. BE ON TIME!
4. Captains are extensions of the coaches.Captains, you are leaders. Make decisions based on rules and policies and what is good for all.
5. Complete all of the workout unless special circumstances arise (other commitments, extra studying or attention to homework needed).
6. Open Communication.

Away Trips/Meets

1. There will be no overnight trips with exception of the State Meet held one week after the sections.
2. High School Swimmers:Coaches are responsible for releasing kids from school.This only applies to swimmers in High School, grades 9 -12.
3. Middle schools students--it is THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PARENT TO CALL IN TO EXCUSE SWIMMERS AND GET THEM TO PICK UP POINTS.
4. 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.
5. 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.

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Practice Schedule

SWIMMING & DIVING

• All in-the-pool practices are at Ordean East Middle School
• Athletes will participate in practice until after their final competition.

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Meet Schedule/State Meet

The meet schedule and results will be posted from the home page of this Website. 

To qualify for the State Meet an athlete must do one of two things:

1. Place 1st or 2nd in an event at the Varsity Section Meet
2. 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.

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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 Denfeld and East for all away meets unless otherwise noted. Whenever possible, we will utilize coach busses for comfort and for the ability to study on the way to meets.  The first hour of every bus ride will be dedicated to schoolwork or reading, no video games.

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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 Senior in good standing and with the program for at least two years.
• Have zero drug, alcohol, and tobacco violations as according to MSHSL.
• Demonstrate proper behavior and sportsmanship throughout the season.

Swimmers must score 50 points to earn a letter. Divers must score 20 points to earn a letter. Points are awarded as follows:

• Dual meet varsity points (individual):  1^st-6 pts, 2^nd-4 pts, 3^rd-3 pts, 4^th-2 pts, 5^th-1 pt
• Dual meet varsity points (relay):  divided by two for dual meets
• Invites:  individual points divided by three; relay points divided by five
• True Team - Individual points divided by four; relay points divided by 8
• Athletes who swim a Section top 16 time or finish in the top half of all divers participating at Sections will earn a letter. 

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 that deserves special recognition for achievement, resiliency or perseverance.

Awards sponsored by other organizations: 

• All State 
• All American

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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
• Snorkel (swimmers only)
• Water bottle
• T-shirt, athletic shorts, athletic shoes, and socks

At meets: Please only wear Duluth Team apparel at meets. 

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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.
• Unexcused absences can result in the athlete not being able to compete and removal from the team.
  • Following the 1^st and 2^nd unexcused absences, the athlete and head coach will meet.  The athlete will not be able to compete in the next meet.

Following the 3^rd unexcused absence, the athlete and head coach will meet to determine the consequences.  Team removal is possible following the 3^rd unexcused absence.

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.  If expectations of the head coach are met, no competitions will be missed.