Gralow captures state swimming title

SANDPOINT — Junior Paulina Gralow captured her third consecutive state title in the 100 meter breaststroke, highlighting a solid showing for the Sandpoint swim teams at the state tournament in Boise last weekend.

The Sandpoint girls finished second to Wood River among the 34 teams competing, marking their highest finish ever. With more than 470 athletes competing, Sandpoint coach Mike Brosnahan shuffled his line ups for the benefit of a high team finish.

"As a whole the girls team made personal sacrifices," he said. "That was big, but it cost them a little in the individual events."

Gralow finished third in the 200 free, the only Bulldog girl to place in the top six individually. She teamed with Tina Wilson, Hillari Contor and Pauline Brothers to finish second in the 200 medley relay, and with Brothers, Emily Ogle and Jordan Hurley to finish third in the 200 free relay. Contor, Ogle, Wilson and Anna Thorell teamed up to finish sixth in the 400 free relay to round out the top finishers on the girls side.

Strong relays were the hallmark of the state swim meet, as two of the boys relays also placed well at state. Todd Stoner, Eric Mann, Cameron Hay and Ben Myers finished fifth in the 200 medley relay, and Mann, Myers, Stoner and Colton Story finished sixth in the 400 free relay.

"The boys relays were really strong," said Brosnahan. "Each one of them dropped up to two seconds apiece in their events."

Mann finished third in the 500 free and fourth in the 200 free, and Todd Stoner finished third in the 50 free and fourth in the 100 backstroke to round out the boys placers. The boys finished seventh as a team, and all in all, Brosnahan was pleased with how both of his teams competed.

"Most of the kids had their best times and best races of the season," he said.