New coach, same lofty goals for Sandpoint swim team

Ballard, Bamer, Schoening, Bokowy primed for big years

By ERIC PLUMMER

Sports editor

SANDPOINT — For the first time in a quarter century, heck for the first time in the program’s history for that matter, somebody other than Mike Brosnahan will be coaching the Sandpoint swim team.

Replacing Brosnahan as just the second Bulldog swim coach ever is someone well acquainted with Sandpoint swimming. Not only did Greg Jackson swim under Brosnahan at SHS before a solid college swimming career, but he’s been Mike’s assistant for the past 10 years.

In other words, don’t expect one of the strongest swim teams in North Idaho to be slowing down or changing anytime soon under Jackson. Last year the girls team finished third at the state in the 4A ranks, and the boys team finished fourth. Anyone who comes out to watch the Bulldogs this season will see a committed bunch.

“They’ll see fast kids that are training and working hard,” said Jackson, noting the coaching transition has gone well. “It’s been pretty seamless. I’m a product of his training, we have very similar beliefs and philosophies. We want kids to enjoy being here and have a love of the sport.”

Leading the boys team will be junior Jacob Ballard, who capped a stellar sophomore season with second place finishes in the 100 breast and 100 IM in Boise, as well as a second and fourth place showing on two relays. That’s a lot of points for one swimmer to score at state, and Jackson doesn’t see why a repeat performance won’t be in order.

“He’s got a great work ethic when he’s in the pool. Always working hard, and finishing strong,” said Jackson, noting Ballard is close to breaking through for a rare boys state title for the Bulldogs. “With the changes in the state format, he definitely has a podium shot and I’d like to see him get close to championships.”

State berths are no longer determined strictly by qualifying time, as Idaho is adopting a new model more similar to state track, with limited berths available to each district. There is also a reduced number of events, and less at-large berths awarded than in past years, and it remains up in the air whether that will help or hurt the Bulldogs.

“With the changes in the qualifying format, we could get a lot of kids to state,” said Jackson. “It’s not done anywhere else in the country. I think it will be fun.”

Providing senior leadership for the boys team is Garrett Bamer, who was on the two scoring relays with Ballard and also finished 16th in the 100 free at state.

Bamer sets the tone in the pool on the boys team, which is fairly young.

“He’s a leader, a motivator,” described Jackson. “He’s somebody that can really get people going, build up the morale, the intensity.”

For his part, Bamer likes the diverse makeup of the boys team, which is small in numbers but big on speed.

“It’s eclectic, everyone’s different,” said Bamer of the boys team. “You’ll see some fast times and hopefully good sportsmanship.”

Sophomore Hayden Norling was also on the second place relay team in his first trip to state, and finished 21st in the 100 free. Other boys who will contribute on varsity include freshman Jack Grzincic, senior Izaak Bartlett, sophomore Jake Aitken and Klaus Schroeder. Jackson says Schroeder’s intensity is amazing.

“The boys team is well rounded,” claimed Jackson. “What’s neat is they’re so diverse, from athletic ability to background. They stick together and help each other.”

The girls team will forge a new identity without four-year stalwart Payton Bokowy, one of the most accomplished prep swimmers in Idaho history who took her talents to compete at Washington State.

Leading the way will be a pair of talented underclassmen in junior Mikayla Schoening, who was 11th at state in the 50 free and swam a leg on a second and third place relays, and sophomore Kate Bokowy, who was 8th in the 50 free and also swam on the same to scoring relays.

“Kate brings work ethic and intensity, and for me, a lot of comic relief. I’d like to see her get on the podium, a top three finish,” predicted Jackson. “Mikayla is really becoming a leader. She’s fast, she’s got some burst in her, a real power swimmer. I’d like to see her make the state finals.”

Behind them is another pair of potential state scorers in senior Sierra Speakman, who was on an 8th place relay last year and plans to do the fly and the free, and sophomore Autumn Morgan, who was injured late in the season but could make some real noise at state in the 100 breast and IM.

“It will be nice to see what Autumn is capable of at the state level,” said Jackson, who said health will also be the key for Speakman. “It’s been tough to get her to state healthy. If we can get her there, Sierra can shock some people.”

Adding depth to the girls team are sophomore Kaya Wright and junior Sabrina Wilson, each of whom was on the 8th place relay with Speakman, and senior Bri Brosnahan, a strong breaststroker who brings valuable leadership to a young girls team.

“It’s a very confident girls team,” claimed Jackson, who feels they can contend for another team trophy. “We’ll be competitive.”

Bri Brosnahan agrees, and says the Bulldog girls team has a lot of strong personalities, which is not a bad thing in the pool.

“When they click, they are together always,” she said. “A bunch of people who enjoy each other and work hard.”