Bokowy, Nielsen notch big wins at IES Championships
(Courtesy photo) Pictured back row, from left to right: Zack Grzincic, Hayden Norling, Jacob Ballard, Garrett Bamer, Jack Grzincic and Aidan Nielsen. Front row: Caleb Norling, Emily Ballard, Kate Bokowy, Autumn Morgan, Payton Bokowy and Ryleigh Bamer. Not pictured: Julia Cummings.
MOSCOW — Led by strong showings by Payton Bokowy, Jacob Ballard and Aiden Nielsen, the SWAC Sharks posted some of their best results ever last weekend at the Inland Empire Swimming Short Course Championships at the University of Idaho pool.
Bokowy, as she often does, dominated the sprints, winning the 50, 100 and 200 free, while also showing diversity with a second place finish in the 100 back and a third place finish in the 100 fly. She now turns her attention to the upcoming Senior Sectionals, one of the toughest events to qualify for, and the opportunity to race against some of the fastest youth swimmers in the country.
“Payton crushed it, swimming against the fastest kids in the Inland Empire placing first in 50, 100 and 200 free,” praised Sharks coach Mike Brosnahan of his four-time state champion.
Nielsen finished first in the 50 fly and second in the 100 fly, Ballard was second in the 200 fly and 50 free, and Caleb Norling was third in the 200 and 500 free, as the trio made the final heats in most of their events, and hit qualifying times for the next really big meet, the Northwest Age Group Regional Championships in Federal Way, Washington on March 23-27.
A total of eight Sharks’ team records were broken at the meet, going back as far at 2002, as the team continues to excel at the regional level. Bokowy, Nielsen and Ballard all posted personal bests.
“It has been fun to watch the Sharks swim so well at these meets,” said Brosnahan. “From Junior champs to Senior Sectionals, the kids swim fast and race well.”
Nielsen, Norling and Jack and Zack Grzincic formed a pair of strong relays to finish third in the 200 free and fourth in the 200 medley, while Julia Cummings, Autumn Morgan, Payton Bokowy and Kate Bokowy teamed up to finish 5th in the 400 free relay and 6th in the 400 medley relay.
Other Sharks to notch top 10 finishes included: Kate Bokowy, third in the 50 free and seventh in the 100 free; Cummings sixth in 50 free; Ryleigh Bamer seventh in 50 fly; and Morgan seventh in 100 breast and eighth in 100 back.