Sandpoint Sharks shine at Sizzlin' Summer Open long course meet
—Courtesy photo The Sandpoint Sharks, pictured back row, from left to right: Mike Brosnahan, Bri Brosnahan, Kate Bokowy, Autumn Morgan, Payton Bokowy, Seth Bamer, Aiden Nielsen, Garrett Bamer, Hayden Norling and Caleb Norling. Front row: Zack Grzincic, Jack Grzincic, Ryleigh Bamer, Ayiana Prevost, Emma Schmitt and Ava Deleeuw.
SANDPOINT — Led by a pair of strong relay performances and a handful of swimmers scoring a lot of points in a lot of events, the Sandpoint Sharks powered their way to a fourth place finish among 17 youth swim teams recently at the Sizzlin’ Summer Open long course meet in Moses Lake, Washington.
Seth and Garrett Bamer teamed up with Payton and Kate Bokowy to win the 400 meter freestyle relay, an impressive win by the sets of siblings competing against some of the top swimmers from around the northwest.
Aiden Nielsen, Autumn Morgan, Caleb Norling and Jack Grzincic finished second in the 400 meter medley relay, one of two second place relay finishes to score valuable points.
“Great swims by the SWAC Sharks,” lauded coach Mike Brosnahan. “Lots of PR swims and a first place relay team. A fourth place team finish is also very cool, with 17 teams from Canada and the Inland Empire.”
Top individual finishes included Payton Bokowy, the two-time reigning Idaho state champ in both of the sprints, who finished second is six events, varying from freestyle to back stroke to the fly.
The only two individual winners were Ryleigh Bamer, who finished first in his age group in the 100 free and second in the 50 back and 50 fly, and Kate Bokowy, who finished first in the 50 free and fourth in the 100 back.
Other top five finishes included Seth Bamer (2nd in 200 fly), Caleb Norling (2nd in the 100 back), Nielsen (3rd in the 100 back), Morgan (3rd in the 50 breast and 50 back), Garrett Bamer (5th in the 50 free) and Bri Brosnahan (5th in the 400 free).