SHS caps regular season with strong meet
Sandpoint High School women's swim team members get ready for a race at Saturday's final meet of the season. The team finished the meet in first place.
(Photo courtesy ANNE MARIE NORLING)
Sandpoint High School men's swim team members get ready for a race at Saturday's final meet of the season. The team finished the meet in first place.
Sara Hogue competes in the fly during a swim meet at the Kroc Center this weekend.
Max Zuberbuhler dives off the starting block during a meet at the Kroc Center this weekend.
Sandpoint High School swim team continued its strong season on Saturday at their latest meet at the KROC Center in Coeur d’Alene.
The combined men’s and women’s teams swept the competition from Timberlake, Lakeland, Wallace, and Post Falls, with the men only falling to Lakeland. Many spectacular swims showcased the team’s versatility, endurance and speed. This meet concluded the regular swimming season, with the team now looking forward to districts and then the Idaho state championship.
Notable performances were turned in by both the women and men’s teams. SHS women’s medley relay, with McKinley Jensen, Mia Driggs, Sarah Hogue and Maren Davidson, took first and demonstrated strength and depth in all strokes. The Bulldog men won the 200 and 400 free relay with a team including under- and upperclassmen.
Other strong showings from the SHS women included the 200IM, with Mia Driggs easily cruising to first. Emily Ballard won the 50 freestyle, a race she’s likely to contest at state; Ryleigh Bamer earned a solid second place. Mia Driggs, Sarah Hogue and Terra Converse took first, second and third in the 100 butterfly. Ava de Leeuw cruised to first in the 200 with Aiyana Prevost taking second, and Ava de Leeuw won the 500 freestyle with Ryleigh Bamer and Ayiana Prevost following in second and third. The women’s 400 relay easily captured first with strong swims by Ryleigh Bamer, Mia Driggs, Ava De Leeuw and Emily Ballard. The women’s 400 relay is a powerhouse and looks ready to make waves at the state championship.
Women’s co-captain Emily Ballard and Men’s captain Caleb Norling, both seniors, won all their events with Caleb capturing first in the 100 and 200 free. Also on the men’s side, McCoy Jensen brought home first in the 500 freestyle. The men’s 400 Freestyle relay featuring McCoy Jensen, Harrison Gedde, Lon LeBlanc and Caleb Norling crushed their competition by nine seconds for first place.
The Bulldog’s next competition is districts, taking place at the University of Idaho in Moscow on Oct. 29. All North Idaho teams will compete for individual and team honors, and — more critically — to earn positions in the state championship in Boise. With the championship following districts by a single week, SHS swimmers will be ready to bring serious competition to the swimmers from all over the state.
