Brosnahan nabs coaching award; SHS swims at state

SANDPOINT — Longtime and popular Sandpoint swimming coach Mike Brosnahan was named the Idaho State Coach of the Year, as voted on by coaches around the state recently.

Brosnahan, who started the SHS swim team 13 years ago and also coaches the successful Sharks youth program, was honored to be recognized by his fellow coaches. He’s won the North Idaho Coach of the Year four times, but never the statewide award.

“It is always an honor to be selected by my North Idaho peers, and it was downright amazing to be selected full state Coach of the Year,” said Brosnahan. “South Idaho has 30 plus votes against six from up here (North).”

The Bulldogs swim team is competing at the state meet in Boise today, where a handful of swimmers stand a chance to nab top 10 finishes, no small accomplishment in a sport with no classifications and nearly 40 teams competing against one another.

Senior captain Garrett Dunn, seniors Graham Cole and Barry Wilson and junior Eric Mann will team up in a strong 200 medley relay to lead the boys team, while both Dunn and Mann will vie for top five finishes in individual events as well.

Senior Selena Warburton will team with Michele Rockwell, Shannon Curran and Kasey Collins on a strong 200 medley relay team to lead the girls, while Brosnahan expects Rockwell to crack the top 10 in two individual events and Warburton a top 10 spot in the 100 breaststroke.

Both the boys and girls 400 relay teams should also make the final heats.