SHS qualifies 13 for state meet

MOSCOW — In what could be a prelude to the state tournament, sophomore Paulina Gralow won two events — the 200-meter individual medley and 100 breaststroke — in dominating fashion Saturday at the District Swimming Championships in Moscow.

The girls' team, which suffered their first loss of the season, qualified 13 swimmers for the state championships Nov. 3-4 in Boise. If not for a disqualification at the start of the 200 medley relay, the girls team would have won the tournament. They figure to challenge for Sandpoint's first-ever state championship, competing against 37 schools from all classifications.

The boys' team finished in third place overall, and qualified eight swimmers to state, all but one of them in two events. All swimmers had to meet a state qualifying time to get an invitation to Boise, regardless of what place they finished each race.

Keith Connor led the boys' team, winning the 50 free and taking second in the 100 free. Todd Stoner and Colton Story finished first and second, respectively, in the 100 backstroke.

Eric Mann and Hillari Contor both took second place in both the 100 fly and 500 free. Laura Lockwood, Anna Thorell, Pauline Brothers and Gralow won the 400 free relay, the Bulldogs only relay win of the day. Relays will be a strength of the team at state.

The Bulldogs get two weeks to fine tune their strokes and curtail their training to ensure peak performances when they really count next weekend in Boise.

Girls state qualifiers, year, events:

Paulina Gralow, So, 200 IM and 100 breastroke

Pauline Brothers, Jr, 200 free and 100 free

Laura Lockwood, Jr, 200 free and 500 free

Sam Trulock, Fr, 200 free and 100 backstroke

Vanessa Stanley, Sr, 200 free and 500 free

Erin Stanley, So, 200 IM and 100 backstroke

Anna Thorell, Jr, 200 IM and 100 free

Laura Hackworthy, Sr, 200 IM and 100 breaststroke

Emily Ogle , Jr, 50 free and100 free

Tina Wilson, So, 50 free and 100 backstroke

Hillari Contor, So, 100 fly, 500 free

Meranda Carter, Fr, 100 free

Lynn DiBenedetto, Jr, 100 free and 100 breaststroke

Boys state qualifiers, years, events:

Colton Story, So, 200 free and 100 backstroke

Bryce Lovrin, Sr, 200 IM and 100 breaststroke

Cameron Hay, Jr, 200 IM and 100 breastroke

Keith Connor, Sr, 50 free and 100 free

Nick Dutton, Sr, 50 free and 100 free

Eric Mann, Jr, 100 fly and 500 free

Todd Stoner, Jr, 100 free and 100 backstroke

Steve Omodt, So, 100 breaststroke