YOUTH SWIM: Sandpoint Sharks overcome adversity, put swimmers on the podium

CHENEY — Despite several team members battling cold and flu season, the Sandpoint Sharks pulled through and ended up with a handful of top swims at the 2023 IE Spokane Winter Invite held Dec. 8-10 at Cheney High.

“This meet is a fun prelim/final meet to prepare the swimmers for [our upcoming] championship meets,” head coach Emily Renzini said. “At this meet, only the top six in each event move on to finals. It’s not easy to do.”

Sandpoint’s Myelle Jensen proved she was not only ready to swim every event twice (preliminary and final), but that she could win a majority of those events pretty handily. Jensen won the 100-yard fly (1:07.60), the 50-yard back (30.35) and the 400 yard IM (5:10.79). The only event she placed second in was the 200-yard IM (2:25.70); she dropped almost 10 seconds from her previous best time in that race.

“Myelle is a force in the water,” Renzini said. “She’s focused, she listens in training and she wants to win. She’s fun to watch.”

Savannah Ferris also had a great showing for the Sharks.

“Savannah dropped time and placed in almost all of her events,” Renzini said. “She was also an alternate for 100 fly (1:32.86) and 200 fly (3:20.10) finals.”

Reina Montecchi, a freshman at Sandpoint High who played a big part in the girls’ state championship win, had a weekend of great swims and secured her spot at the 2024 PN VAST 47th Annual Washington Open. Montecchi won the 100-yard breast (1:20.71) and finished third in several other events.

Joshua Jackson demonstrated his strength in both distance and sprint events by taking third place in the 500-yard freestyle (6:50.14) on Friday night and then fourth in the 100-yard freestyle (1:11.75) on Saturday night.

“I have been working to ensure that all of my swimmers have at least one distance workout a week,” Renzini said. “It builds their endurance and makes them strong, well-rounded athletes. It’s cool to see their hard work paying off.”

Some additional great swims this past weekend include:

• Bodi Demmons – 100-yard back, third place (1:08.69)

• Eli Norling – 200-yard freestyle, (2:27.37, PB by over one minute)

• Charlie Johnson – 100-yard back, first place (1:45.25)

• Andrew Ford – 50-yard breast, second place (36.33)

• Allyson Ballard – 100-yard free, first place (1:06.68)

Do you have an athlete interested in swimming? Tryouts for the upcoming season will be held Dec. 18-21 at 4:30 p.m. at the YMCA. Winter season begins Jan. 8, 2024. Contact head Coach Emily Renzini at headcoach@sandpointsharks.com for more information.