Sandpoint swim wraps up season with pair of runner-up finishes in virtual state meet
The Sandpoint swim team finally saw its season come to a close Friday when the virtual 4A state swim meet results were released. The boys and girls each placed second.
(Photo courtesy of JASON DUCHOW PHOTOGRAPHY)
SANDPOINT — The swim season has finally come to a close.
The Sandpoint swim team hasn't competed since districts on Oct. 24 at the Kroc Center, but on Friday the Idaho High School Activities Association released the virtual state swim meet results, officially putting an end to the Bulldogs' season.
The girls, the defending 4A state champs, captured — second 52 points behind first-place Bishop Kelly. The boys also placed runner-up to the Knights, finishing 32 points behind them.
For the boys, this was their highest finish at state since the IHSAA began sanctioning the tournament three years ago.
In a season filled with uncertainty and a number of challenges, the Bulldogs made it through and head coach Greg Jackson said the virtual state results helped the team see an end to it all.
"I think it brings some closure," he said. "It's obviously not the same as an in-person meet or competition but overall I think they did a good job of staging it, building a little suspense and then releasing it, and I think the kids got closure and they're happy."
Jackson said "it was neat to see the way the state" released the results and he appreciated the fact that they included the names of Collin Dodd and Logan Liken-Savage, who just missed out on qualifying for state.
The IHSAA announced state qualifiers on Monday and immediately Jackson started crunching the numbers to figure out how the results would shake out on Friday.
Jackson said the Bulldogs ended up about where he expected, but he was hoping to be a little closer to Bishop Kelly in boys and girls. Unfortunately, the Bulldogs just don't have the numbers the Knights have, he said.
If an in-person state meet was held, Jackson said the results, especially in individual events, would have looked different but he was pleased with the Bulldogs' performance.
Sandpoint earned a pair of state titles in the 200 free relay with the boys and girls earning first in the event. The boys also took second in the 400 free relay and third in the 200 free relay while the girls placed second in the 200 medley relay and sixth in the 400 free relay.
Jackson said his team's performance in the relays represents how strong the Bulldogs were this year.
"I think it really shows that our six girls and our six boys are the best six in the state," he said.
The boys were able to hold off rival Moscow for second place. Hayden Leavitt led the way placing third in the 200 and 500 free. Caleb Norling captured second in the 200 IM and sixth in the 100 free. Caleb finished just over a second behind the first-place swimmer.
Senior captain Hayden Norling secured fourth in the 200 free and sixth in the 100 breast, the defending state champion in the 100 fly, Aidan Nielsen, took sixth in the event, and Jack Grzincic grabbed seventh in the 200 IM and 10th in the 100 back. Jake Aitken was 12th in the 50 free.
The girls edged out third-place Moscow by 29 points for second and senior captain Kate Bokowy grabbed a pair of runner-up finishes in the 200 IM and 100 fly. Kaya Wright tied for second in the 50 free with Bishop Kelly's Brinn Frost and took second in the 100 back.
Emily Ballard locked down third in the 100 free and fourth in the 200 free, Ayiana Prevost placed sixth in the 500 free and seventh in the 200 free, Sarah Hogue captured seventh in the 100 fly and 10th in the 200 IM and Autumn Morgan notched ninth in the 200 IM and 11th in the 100 breast.
In the 100 back, Maren Davidson took 11th and McKinley Jensen was 12th and in the 100 breast Sabrina Wilson placed 12th.
Jackson said he was proud of his team for following the guidelines put in front of them, sticking with it and keeping morale high throughout the season.
"Just the way they persevered throughout the whole ordeal was really cool to watch," he said, "and really satisfying for me, and it was a little inspirational. It kept me going, it kept my spirits up."
4A VIRTUAL STATE SWIM MEET
SANDPOINT RESULTS
GIRLS
TEAM SCORES — 1, Bishop Kelly 238.5. 2, Sandpoint 186.5. 3, Moscow 157. 4, Minico 108. 5, Twin Falls 90.
200 medley relay — 2, Sandpoint, 1:59.01
200 free — 4, Emily Ballard, 2:07.04. 7, Ayiana Prevost, 2:14.10.
200 IM — 2, Kate Bokowy, 2:19.40, 9, Autumn Morgan, 2:34.71. 10, Sarah Hogue, 2:35.00.
50 free — T2, Kaya Wright, 27.03.
100 fly — 2, Kate Bokowy, 1:02.16. 7, Sarah Hogue, 1:11.89.
100 free — 3, Emily Ballard, 58.39.
500 free — 6, Ayiana Prevost, 5:56.74.
200 free relay — 1, Sandpoint, 1:47.56.
100 backstroke — 2, Kaya Wright, 1:04.64. 11, Maren Davidson, 1:12.32. 12, McKinley Jensen, 1:13.31.
100 breaststroke — 11, Autumn Morgan, 1:19.51. 12, Sabrina Wilson, 1:20.36.
400 free relay — 6, Sandpoint, 4:18.58.
BOYS
TEAM SCORES — 1, Bishop Kelly 218. 2, Sandpoint 168. 3, Moscow 148. 4, Minico 111. 5, Kimberly 93.
200 medley relay — 3, Sandpoint, 1:47.59.
200 free — 3, Hayden Leavitt, 1:51.72. 4, Hayden Norling, 1:54.25.
200 IM — 2, Caleb Norling, 2:05.93. 7, Jack Grzincic, 2:16.84.
50 free — 12, Jake Aitken, 24.06.
100 fly — 6, Aidan Nielsen, 57.80.
100 free — 6, Caleb Norling, 50.74.
500 free — 3, Hayden Leavitt, 5:08.38.
200 free relay — 1, Sandpoint, 1:35.92.
100 backstroke — 10, Jack Grzincic, 1:02.58.
100 breaststroke — 6, Hayden Norling, 1:05.03.
400 free relay — 2, Sandpoint, 3:27.89.