Freestylers, relays shine in Sandpoint swim team's second meet

POST FALLS — Racing against the usual slew of north Idaho swim teams, three Sandpoint relays and four individuals won their respective events at the Kroc Center in Post Falls last Friday, Sept. 13.

“I’m impressed with all of those who competed,” Sandpoint swim coach Greg Jackson said in an email afterwards. “In one week, we worked on improving our kicks, and 100% of those at the meet improved. As a coach, I was very proud of the team for embracing and executing our goals for improvement.”

All told, Sandpoint had 24 total top-three finishes at the meet, which used head-to-head, split-scoring format across the five schools.

By and large, the Bulldogs raced several events for the first time this season. Despite the event changes, the results were generally the same: The Bulldog boys were dominant, placing 11 relays and individuals in the top three of their respective events.

“It’s amazing to go from a team a year ago that could only post two strong relays, but can now place three stronger relays with only six men,” Jackson said. “And their individual performances continue to surpass expectations, with Hayden Norling leading as [not only] a captain, but also a motivator.”

Hayden Norling won with a 5:15.61 and Jack Grzincic was close behind with a 5:29.87 in the 500 free, which was an event Sandpoint dominated for both boys and girls.

Sandpoint’s pair of boys gapped the rest of the field by nearly 40 seconds, whereas freshman Aiyana Prevost placed third in the girls 500 free with a 6:14.92 — trailing only a pair of upperclassmen from 5A schools.

Elsewhere, senior Mikayla Schoening won the 100 in a 57.58, mere milliseconds off of her time from last week.

But transfer Lulu Black won the 50 in a 28.02, garnering high praise from Jackson after training for such a short time in the Sandpoint program.

“Lulu rose to the occasion to win her 50 free,” Jackson said. “We are glad to have acquired such a strong swimmer in her senior year, having transfered from out of state. She will be a great competitor throughout the year in sprint freestyle and backstroke.”

In the relays, the girls 200 free relay team raced nearly at full-strength — Kaya Wright couldn’t attend the meet — but Emily Ballard stepped in, teaming up with Autumn Morgan, Kate Bokowy and Schoening to win the event in a 1:49.37.

Over on the boys’ side, the Bulldogs won the 400 freestyle relay and the 200 medley relay in 3:40.11 and 1:51.24, respectively.

The 400 order of Caleb Norling, Jack Grzincic, Hayden Leavitt and Aidan Nielsen remained the same from the Icebreaker meet; like the first meet, the Bulldogs won handily albeit this time 13 seconds ahead of the second-place team from Coeur d’Alene.

“The success of this team is directly related to their commitment to hard work and the overall plan for the season,” Jackson added.

The Bulldogs’ next step in the overall plan for the season happens to be their lone home meet of the season. It will be held at the Litehouse YMCA on Saturday, Sept. 28, starting at 1:30 a.m.

Post Falls High School Meet

at The Salvation Army Kroc Center

Sandpoint athletes in bold

GIRLS RESULTS

200 medley relay — 1, CDA, 2:00.59

200 freestyle — 1, Abbey Whiting, CDA, 2:05.90. 2, Natasha Astrauskas, Post Falls, 2:09.97. 3, Kate Bokowy, Sandpoint, 2:17.00

200 IM — 1, Micah Sharples, Post Falls, 2:21.56. 2, Autumn Morgan, Sandpoint, 2:26.88. 3, Mikayla Schoening, Sandpoint, 2:29.82

50 freestyle — 1, Lulu Black, Sandpoint, 28.02. 2, Capri Sims, Post Falls, 30.61. 3, Brynn Adamson, CDA, 30.99

100 butterfly — 1, Micah Sharples, Post Falls, 1:03.83. 2, Kate Bokowy, Sandpoint, 1:06.41. 3, Kathyrn Moon, CDA, 1:08.21

100 freestyle — 1, Mikayla Schoening, Sandpoint, 57.58. 2, Julia Cummings, BFHS, 58.45. 3, Sophia Goodson, CDA, 1:03.40

500 freestyle — 1, Abbey Whiting, CDA, 5:45.00. 2, Taylen Zahnow, CDA, 5:57.64. 3, Aiyana Prevost, Sandpoint, 6:14.92

200 freestyle relay — 1, Sandpoint (Autumn Morgan, Emily Ballard, Kate Bokowy, Mikayla Schoening), 1:49.37

100 backstroke — 1, Natasha Astrauskas, Post Falls, 1:02.91. 2, Julia Cummings, BFHS, 1:04.49. 3, Kaleigh Goetz, CDA, 1:06.46

100 breaststroke — 1, Kendra Newman, CDA, 1:13.62. 2, Autumn Morgan, Sandpoint, 1:15.42. 3, Kaycee Skelton, CDA, 1:19.25

400 freestyle relay — 1, CDA, 4:01.41

BOYS RESULTS

200 medley relay — 1, Sandpoint (Jack Grzincic, Hayden Norling, Aidan Nielsen, Jake Aitken), 1:51.24

200 freestyle — 1, Mason Groth, CDA, 2:02.26. 2. Aidan Nielsen, Sandpoint, 2:02.42. 3, Charles Daniel Sharples, Post Falls, 2:17.84

200 IM — 1, Caleb Norling, Sandpoint, 2:14.10. 2, Jack Grzincic, 2:17.08. 3, Josh Hudlet, CDA, 2:19.91

50 freestyle — 1, Tristan Sunseri, CDA, 22.79. 2, Hayden Leavitt, Sandpoint, 24.43. 3, Hayden Norling, Sandpoint, 24.60

100 butterfly — 1, Caleb Norling, Sandpoint, 1:00.97. 2, Hayden Leavitt, Sandpoint, 1:01.84. 3, Maverick Royalty, Post Falls, 1:04.11

100 freestyle — 1, Tristan Sunseri, CDA, 50.47. 2, Aidan Nielsen, Sandpoint, 55.01. 3, Jake Aitken, Sandpoint, 56.68

500 freestyle — 1, Hayden Norling, Sandpoint, 5:15.61. 2, Jack Grzincic, Sandpoint, 5:29.87. 3, Isaiah Hudlet, CDA, 6:09.76

200 freestyle relay — 1, CDA, 1:36.64

100 backstroke — 1, Caleb Markowski, CDA, 59.39. 2, Ryan Graves, Post Falls, 1:14.91. 3, Cooper Ray, CDA, 1:16.30

100 breaststroke — 1, Josh Hudlet, CDA, 1:09.21. 2, Nicholas Patrick, CDA, 1:13.54. 3, Ryder Koch, Post Falls, 1:14.55

400 freestyle relay — 1, Sandpoint (Caleb Norling, Jack Grzincic, Hayden Leavitt, Aidan Nielsen), 3:40.11