The Oakville boys swim team continued their run of excellence this year, finishing 13-4 and second in conference to qualify nine swimmers for state.

Five of the nine qualifying swimmers were seniors, capping off successful four year careers. Qualifiers included senior Mitch Daues, sophomore Ben Pantazo, senior Seth Steinbrueck, senior Matthew Chirco, senior Doug Poertner, junior Max Sullivan, senior Mason Zimmermann, sophomore Jacob Pantazo and sophomore Brayden Zimmermann

“This group of seniors, since they joined the program as freshmen, they’ve had a good run,” Coach Dan Schoenfeldt said. “Sophomore year they were conference champions, junior year … they went undefeated in conference swims. This year we got edged out by Webster Groves, who I think beat us by a point and a half.”

Schoenfeldt said the lack of divers on the Tigers’ roster made it difficult to catch back up in points.

At state, senior Poertner broke a 20 year old OHS record with his 54.26 time in the 100-yard butterfly to earn a top 16 finish, which Schoenfeldt predicted might happen in August. The 400 yard freestyle relay team also finished in the top 16 at state.

“That senior group had a good run, and I think they’re probably proud of how they ended things,” Schoenfeldt said.