Shannon Curran sparks SWAC Sharks at EWU

| December 2, 2004 8:00 PM

CHENEY — The Sandpoint West Athletic Club Sharks, with an impressive performance by Shannon Curran, proved Inland Empire Coach of the Year Mike Brosnahan's theory that intense work on technique versus logging mega-miles in practice would ultimately pay off in significant reduction of swimmers' times.

Competing against over 400 swimmers and 23 teams from as far away as Seattle in the Turkey Trot meet at Eastern Washington University, Curran led SWAC's 23-member team to a seventh place finish overall. Dropping time in all seven of her events, she placed first in the 50-yard freestyle, second in the 100 IM, 200 IM and 200 free, and recorded an age group sectional qualifying time in the 100 breaststroke.

Curran was joined by her 12 and under teammates in impressive reductions in personal best times. Anna Andruzak swam a strong meet, improving time in the (9-10) 100 breaststroke, 100 backstroke and 100 freestyle, where she captured a third in the B division and an A qualifying time. Keeley Pearlstein dropped time and swam A-times in five of her events, taking a first in the (9-10) 50 backstroke. Seven year old Darby Scrimsher bested her 50 freestyle time by 26 seconds. Mariah Williams improved time in all her events, and contributed to a fourth for the SWAC (11-12) 200 freestyle relay team of Curran, Williams, Meranda Carter and Shannon Stanley. Colton Story had another strong weekend, swimming to age group sectional (11-12) times in five events and taking second in the 100 freestyle and 200 IM.

In the weekend's split meet, thirteen year old Paulina Gralow was third in individual high points, swimming to first place in the 200 and 100 breaststroke, as well as adding a zone qualifying time in the latter. Bryce Lovrin dropped time in six events; Laura Lockwood dropped 20 seconds in her 200 freestyle. Samantha Trulock captured a strong third in the (13-14) 100 backstroke.

The SWAC Sharks travel to Moscow this weekend for the Jingle Bell Splash meet. Complete meet results available at www.ieswim.org.