Feb. 21—LAKEVILLE — For the third time in four seasons, the Century boys swimming and diving team is bringing home the Section 1, Class 2A championship.

The Panthers once again zoomed by their competition, boasting a score of 509 to claim the championship crown at Lakeville Century Middle School on Friday night. Lakeville North was section runner-up, finishing 91 points behind Century with a score of 418.

By the end of the night, the Panthers had eight swimmers and one diver qualify for the Class 2A boys state swimming and diving meet set for Feb. 26-28 at Freeman Aquatic Center in Minneapolis.

This is the first time Century has claimed back-to-back section titles since its eight-year championship streak from 2007 to 2014.

"It mainly probably stems from our team culture," Century senior William Truskowski said. "We're the loudest team at the meet, especially here at sections, because the goal is really just get as many guys to state as possible. And at practice, that energy carries over. We're pushing each other every day. A lot of us have been swimming together for so many years now that it's just like clockwork. We get in, we know what we're doing."

Century advanced all three of its relays to state. Its 200 medley relay team of seniors Andrew Linden, Grady Bargfrede, Truskowski and Eli Holmes set the pool record, clocking in at 1:33.38. The Panthers' squad of Linden, Bargfrede, Everett Nord and Holmes won the 200 freestyle relay with a time of 1:26.20. In the 400 freestyle relay, Truskowski, Grant Garrison, Nord and Gavin Potter finished as section runners-up with a time of 3:12.70.

"It's a huge deal," Century coach Linda Freeman said of her team's second consecutive section title. "Prelims is always the hardest meet to swim in, because you have to make it that day, or there's no finals for you, but they were really tough on Wednesday and we qualified a lot of people through. The whole team did get through into either consolation or top eight (races), except for one guy, and that's pretty unusual. ... And so then today, coming back, they could just swim free, and the pressure is kind of off. And they really just were outstanding today."

Bargfrede, Holmes and Truskowski each qualified for state in four events.

Bargfrede won the section title in the 200 individual medley, clocking in at 1:53.02 and the 100 breaststroke with a time of 57.51.

Truskowski won and set the pool record in the 100 butterfly (49.94) and was section runner-up in the 100 back (50.98). Linden finished third in the 100 back (53.29). Century's Gabe Brodin was second in the 100 breast (1:00.92).

Holmes, who had two top-seven finishes at state a year ago, was section champion in the 50 freestyle, breaking the pool record with his time of 21.20. He was section runner-up and qualified in the 100 freestyle (46.40) as well, placing second behind Mayo junior William Leasure, who broke the pool record and clocked in at 46.32. Leasure came in second and qualified in the 50 freestyle with a time of 21.33.

The expectations were high for the Panthers coming into the season, but they do their best to block out the noise and work for every accolade they receive.

"Nothing's given, it's all earned and what you've done before doesn't matter until what you're going to do now," Bargfrede said. "So, you have to leave everything in the pool."

It's safe to say the Panthers did just that on Friday.

Century will soon graduate a large chunk of its record-setting team, but the senior Panthers are confident the program is in good hands with the underclassmen. And the seniors have left a lasting impression on the rest of the team.

"They learn from us," Truskowski said. "One guy was just telling me the other day that he got better by watching me and Grady do fly every day while we were warming up. And that's really what motivated him. ... They're able to watch us and learn from us that way, and then we're able to help them out, if they ask for it, or just promote that positive team culture as well."

In his first section meet, Mayo sophomore Kai Joyner was the section champion in the 200 freestyle (1:38.17) and the 500 freestyle (4:29.21), setting pool and meet records in both events.

Leasure and Joyner, together with teammates William Boorjian and Andrew Lin-Jankowski, won and set the pool record in the 400 freestyle relay (3:10.50). Those four also qualified in the 200 free relay (1:27.12) for the Spartans, who finished fourth at the section meet with a score of 239.

Century's Potter finished second behind Joyner in the 200 free (1:45.54) and in the 500 free (4:44.94). Potter advances to state in both events.

Garrison placed third behind Joyner and Potter in the 500 free (4:47.57) and sixth in the 100 backstroke with a state-qualifying time of 54.01.

Austin senior Brent Dahl was section champion in the 100 backstroke, clocking in at 48.77, which broke both the meet and pool records. Dahl was last year's 100 back state champion in Class 1A before the Packers moved up to Class 2A this season. Dahl was runner-up in the 200 IM on Friday, setting the Austin school record with a time of 1:53.50.

Austin's 200 medley relay team of Dahl, Hunter Peters, Simon Pischke and Carter Holt made the state cut, placing third (1:38.17).

Century's Silas Wagstaff qualified for the diving portion of the state meet after he was named section runner-up on Thursday night, scoring 355.00 points in the 1-meter dive.

Joyner was named section swimmer of the year and Freeman was named section head coach of the year.

"It's the most fun I've ever had at meets," Holmes said. "And obviously, Linda winning coach of the year, it all is just falling into place as (the) senior year we've always dreamed of."

"I've been on this team for five years now, and to win, I think this is my third section title," Bargfrede said. "It means a lot, especially going out on this high note. A lot of us have been swimming with each other for so long. We're all just so good friends."

The Panthers came in sixth place at last year's state meet and are hoping for another top-ten finish next week.

"These guys are set up to do quite a special thing at state that perhaps hasn't been done in Rochester for some time," Freeman said. "So you don't count your chickens before they hatch certainly, but it's looking great, and they're really excited, and they've worked hard and they deserve it."

(Austin, Century, Mayo)

200 medley relay — 1. Century (Andrew Linden, Grady Bargfrede, William Truskowski, Eli Holmes) 1:33.38 (pool record), 3. Austin (Brent Dahl, Hunter Peters, Simon Pischke, Carter Holt) 1:38.17.

200 freestyle — 1. Kai Joyner (M) 1:38.17 (meet record, pool record), 2. Gavin Potter (C) 1:45.54.

200 individual medley — 1. Bargfrede (C) 1:53.02, 2. Dahl (A) 1:53.50 (school record).

50 freestyle — 1. Holmes (C) 21.20 (pool record), 2. William Leasure (M) 21.33.

Diving — 2. Silas Wagstaff (C) 355.00.

100 butterfly — 1. Truskowski (C) 49.94 (pool record).

100 freestyle — 1. Leasure (M) 46.32 (pool record), 2. Holmes (C) 46.40.

500 freestyle — 1. Joyner (M) 4:29.21 (meet record, pool record), 2. Potter (C) 4:44.94, 3. Grant Garrison (C) 4:47.57.

200 freestyle relay — 1. Century (Linden, Bargfrede, Everett Nord, Holmes) 1:26.20, 2. Mayo (Leasure, William Boorjian, Andrew Lin-Jankowski, Joyner) 1:27.12.

100 backstroke — 1. Dahl (A) 48.77 (meet record, pool record), 2. Truskowski (C) 50.98, 3. Linden (C) 53.29, 6. Garrison (C) 54.01.

100 breaststroke — 1. Bargfrede (C) 57.51, 2. Gabe Brodin (C) 1:00.92.

400 freestyle relay — 1. Mayo (Leasure, Boorjian, Lin-Jankowski, Joyner) 3:10.50 (pool record), 2. Century (Truskowski, Garrison, Nord, Potter) 3:12.70.

Team scores

1. Century 509, 2. Lakeville North 418, 3. Farmington 273, 4. Mayo 239, 5. Lakeville South 193, 6. Austin 179, 7. Owatonna 148, 8. John Marshall 94.

(Red Wing, Winona)

200 medley relay — 1. Winona/Winona Cotter (Owen Ellinghuysen, Matthew Baumgartner, Carson Prodzinski, Kedrick Boucek) 1:39.99.

200 freestyle — 2. Cordel Ruppert (W) 1:47.81.

200 individual medley — 2. Baumgartner (W) 1:59.36.

50 freestyle — 2. Eli Flattum (RW) 22.46.

Diving — 1. Zachary Mikkelson (RW) 534.80, 3. Landen Nelson (RW) 407.25.

100 butterfly — 3. Prodzinski (W) 53.28.

500 freestyle — 1. Ruppert (W) 4:55.83.

200 freestyle relay — 2. Winona (Prodzinski, Boucek, Phin Van Fossen, Ruppert) 1:30.50, 5. Red Wing (Luke Farrar, Mikkelson, Nick Babcock, Flattum) 1:32.29.

100 breaststroke — 1. Baumgartner (W) 56.62.

400 freestyle relay — 2. Winona (Quinn Wangberg, Ruppert, Marley Paulson, Baumgartner) 3:20.80.

Team scores

1. Northfield 470.5, 2. Winona/Winona Cotter 399, 3. Mankato West 345, 4. Red Wing 233, 5. Mankato East 202, 6. Simley 189.5, 7. Faribault 104, 8. Albert Lea 81.