Austin’s Dahl takes finds his “big moment” in the 100-backstroke – Austin Daily Herald

Austin junior Brent Dahl won Austin’s first state swimming title since 2021 when he took first in the 100-yard backstroke at the Minnesota Class A state meet at the Jean K. Freeman Aquatic Center at the University of Minnesota Saturday.

Dahl took home the title with a time of an All-American Consideration and personal best time of 49.79 seconds in the finals to edge out Northfield senior Josh Kraby, who finished with a time of 50.09 seconds.

“It just felt great. All of the work I put in and all of the hours paid off,” Dahl said. “It was one big moment that I had. It feels great to have won the state title and I hope to come back next year and do it again.”

Dahl had taken second in the preliminaries, but he cranked it up a notch in the finals.

“I was about where I wanted to be in prelims,” Dahl said. “I knew that I was right with (Kraby) and I had a chance of getting him.”

Dahl took fourth in the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 1:56.11. Charlie Bobick of St. Cloud Apollo won the 200-IM with a time of 1:51.91.

The last Packer to win a state title was Logan Kelly, who won the 200-yard freestyle in 2021.

AUSTIN RESULTS

200-medley relay: Brent Dahl, Hunter Peters, Simon Pischke, Noah Holt (16h, 1:42.13)

200-individual medley: Brent Dahl (fourth, 1:56.11)

100-backstroke: Brent Dahl (first, 49.79)