Cougar boys swim team won section championship, finished top-five at state
Lakeville South head coach Rick Ringeisen was named boys Class AA Coach of the Year at the Minnesota All-State Swimming and Diving Banquet on April 26, putting a exclamation on arguably South’s best season since North and South separated in 2005.
Ringeisen, in sharing the credit, praised this year’s Lakeville South swimmers and divers as one of the best groups of athletes he has coached. “I am deeply honored to receive the boys’ Class AA State Coach of the Year Award and humbled to be recognized by my coaching peers,” he said. “I share this honor with my fabulous assistant coaches: Derek Moulton (diving), Erik Knutsen, Jen Marshall, and Vince Breza, as well as my team.
“The Lakeville South swimming and diving team was led by an exceptional senior class and backed by several young, talented athletes who are well on their way to becoming stars,” Ringeisen added. “The evening was extra special because two of my senior captains, Gage Boushee and Ethan LaBounty, were also recognized as Athlete of the Year finalists. It is an incredible feat for one team to have two finalists for the most prestigious awards in swimming and diving.”
In the last four years, Ringeisen has led one of the smallest teams in Class AA to South’s highest finishes ever at the state meet. South has finished in the top five at state for four straight years, and this year’s fifth-place finish was accomplished with 22 athletes.
During the 2023-24 season, his team broke 58 pool, school, Section 1AA and True Team State records. South won the Maroon Division at the Maroon and Gold meet, finished second in the South Suburban Conference, won the Section 1AA True Team championship, and placed first in the Minnesota State High School League Section 1AA meet. Ringeisen had four All-American athletes and five All-State athletes. The team finished with the Gold Standard in Academic Success, achieving a combined team grade-point average over 3.75.
The South Suburban is quickly becoming one of the state’s best swimming and diving conferences. Two SSC athletes (Arianna Zelen of Shakopee and Ivy Solt of Prior Lake) were up for Girls Class AA Athlete of the Year, while seven SSC athletes contended for the boys award. Lucas Gerten (Rosemount), Quinlan Schroeder (Rosemount), Boushee, LaBounty, Kaiden Cheung (Prior Lake), Ethan Kosin (Prior Lake) and Owen Kipp (Eagan) all vied for the honor. No other conference had as many athletes nominated.
Lily Van Heel of St. Michael-Albertville was named Girls Class AA Athlete of the Year, while Micah Davis of St. Cloud Tech/Cathedral/ROCORI/Becker was the boys selection.
Also honored at the April 26 banquet was Lakeville North assistant coach Rick Krueger, who received the Assistant Coach Dedicated Service Award and was recognized for 50 years of service to Minnesota high school swimming.
Krueger was Ringeisen’s high school coach. “Rick Krueger’s mentorship and friendship launched my coaching career, and he has been a lifelong supporter,” said Ringeisen. “He has made the same difference in thousands of athletes in his career.”
Krueger, well known for his work in politics, has also been instrumental in funding elite swimming and diving pools in Minnesota. His legacy includes helping secure funding for the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center at the University of Minnesota and, closer to home, the Blanchard Aquatic Center at Century Middle School in Lakeville. He continues to serve as assistant coach for Lakeville North’s boys and girls teams.
“Despite coaching in a water setting, it’s really about providing flying lessons for life,” Krueger said.
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