Ballard, Bokowy dominate at state swim meet, lead Bulldogs to strong finish
(Courtesy photo) The Bulldog girls finished third in a strong showing at state. Pictured from left to right are Sierra Speakman, Catherine Brenner, Kate Bokowy, assistant coach Greg Jackson, Payton Bokowy, Mikayla Schoening, head coach Mike Brosnahan, Ellie McCray, Kaya Wright and Sabrina Wilson.
(Courtesy photo) The boys 400 meter free relay finished second at state. Pictured from left to right are Hayden Norling, Jacob Ballard, Garrett Bamer and Miles Luce.
BOISE — Strong performances by senior Payton Bokowy and junior Jacob Ballard helped the Bulldogs to a strong showing at the state swim meet in Boise last weekend, with the girls finishing third and the boys team fourth.
Bokowy won the 50 and 100 free, earning her 5th and 6th individual state titles, and also teamed with Ellie McCray, Mikayla Schoening and Kate Bokowy to finish second in the 400 and third in the 200 free relays, racking up massing points in the process.
The girls 200 free relay broke their own team record during both the prelims and finals, ending the season with a top time of 1:43.57. Payton Bokowy also broke her own 100 free record in the finals, clocking a 51.56 and missing the state record by just .13 seconds.
Ballard capped a stellar season by breaking his 100 breast record with a 1:02.22 to finish second, and added another second place finish in the 200 IM, where his time of 2:03.86 broke Eric Mann’s 2008 SHS record. His three second place and one fourth place finish is the most state points scored by a male swimmer at Sandpoint in a long time.
Ballard also teamed with Hayden Norling, Miles Luce and Garrett Bamer to finish second in the 400 free relay, and then teamed with Bamer, Luce and William Dorman to finish fourth in the 200 medley relay.
Catherine Brenner, Sierra Speakman, Sabrina Wilson and Kaya Wright finished 8th in the 200 medley relay. Other Bulldog girls finishes included Kate Bokowy (8th 50 free, 10 100 free), Schoening (11th 50 free, 16th 100 free), Speakman (23rd 500 free, 25th 100 fly), Brenner (25th 500 free, 29th 200 free), McCray (24th 100 fly, 41st 100 free), Wilson (32nd 100 breast) and Wright (38th 50 free).
Izaak Bartlett, Carson Lewis, Johnny Parkinson and Dorman finished 24th in the 200 free relay. Other Bulldog boys finishes included Bamer (16th 100 free, 20th 50 free), Luce (25th 100 breast, 31st 100 free) and Norling (19th 200 free, 21st 500 free).