Ballard, Schoening shine at Coeur d'Alene meet
(Photo by JACINDA BOKOWY) Jacob Ballard won the 50 free and the 100 breast, and was part of a first and second place relay in a stellar showing on Saturday.
COEUR d’ALENE — Stellar showings by Jacob Ballard and Mikayla Schoening led the Bulldog swim team at a meet against Coeur d’Alene, Lake City and Moscow on Saturday at the Kroc Center.
Ballard won the 50 free and 100 breast, and teamed with Garrett Bamer, Jack Grzincic and Hayden Norling to win the 400 free relay. He also teamed with Bamer, Norling and William Dorman to finish second in the 200 free relay to cap a stellar day in the water for the returning state placer.
Schoening won the 50 free and was second in the 100 free, and also teamed with Sierra Speakman, Autumn Morgan and Kate Bokowy to win the 400 free relay to score a ton of points. She also teamed with Kaya Wright, Bri Brosnahan and Morgan to finish second in the 200 free relay.
Wright, Brosnahan, Speakman and Bokowy finished second in the 200 medley relay, Caitlyn Smith, Sabrina Wilson, Chandler Sanborn and Mailee Jensen were fifth in the 200 medley relay, and Anna Auld, Elli Warren, Sadie Stultz and Clara Cave were fifth in the 200 free relay, as the Bulldogs’ team speed shines through in the relays and springs.
“Everyone showed their hard work from the season with the swims they had. New swimmers had outstanding performances and best times due to working hard and learning,” claimed Bulldog head coach Greg Jackson. “Veteran swimmers had great performances, especially back end and end of meet that shows their commitment to the training.”
Other top 5 performances on the girls team were turned in by Kate Bokowy (2nd 200 IM, 3rd 100 back), Speakman (2nd 100 fly), Morgan (4th 100 fly and 100 back), Wright (4th 100 free) and Brosnahan (5th 100 breast).
Jake Aitken, Hayden Leavitt, Grzincic and Dorman were fourth in the 200 medley relay. Other top 5 finishes for the boys team included Bamer (2nd 100 500, 5th 100 back), Norling (2nd in 200 IM and 500 free), Grzincic (2nd 100 fly, 4th 200 free), Leavitt (4th 500 free, 5th 200 free) and Dorman (5th 100 free).
“I am most happy with the veterans that posted slower than expected times,” said Jackson, owing it to intense training. “This shows their exceptionally hard word and dedication to the end result of districts and state.”
The Bulldogs are at the Kroc Center again on Oct. 5 against Post Falls and Coeur d’Alene.