MSHSL History Capsule: Brian Luke
Posted: Tuesday, October 3, 2023 - 1:35 PM
Hall of Fame coach Brian Luke led the Stillwater girls swimming and diving team to its 200th consecutive Suburban East Conference dual meet victory on Sept. 26.
League Hall of Famer Brian Luke, a swimming coaching icon at Stillwater High School, continues to make history.
His latest feat occurred on Tuesday, Sept. 26 at Parkview Center School in Roseville when Stillwater’s girls swimming and diving team recorded a victory over Roseville in a Suburban East Conference dual meet. It was the program’s 200th consecutive dual meet victory dating to 2003.
“At some point it will be broken, but it’s fun to keep it going,” Luke told the Stillwater Gazette. “Two-hundred is a nice round number and it’s nice to make it to that.”
Luke, an inductee in the League’s Hall of Fame Class of 2022, has also guided the Ponies to 20 consecutive Suburban East Conference championships as well as a run of 21 section crowns in a row.
“I think the kids were pretty excited about it, too,” Luke said. “The streak started when none of them had even been born yet, but they seem to enjoy being part of it.”
Stillwater broke the Minnesota record of consecutive dual meet victories in 2015. That mark was previously held by Hopkins Lindbergh, a squad coached by Luke’s father, Elmer. His father assisted him for about 20 years at Stillwater.
At the state meet level, Luke has led the girls swimming and diving team to 11 championships and seven True-Team crowns.
Longtime Stillwater High School girls swimming and diving coach Brian Luke greets well-wishers following the Ponies' dual-meeting victory over Roseville on Sept. 26. It was the Ponies' state-record 200th consecutive Suburban East Conference dual meet victory.
Photo courtesy: Stillwater Gazette
