Locals make a splash at 29th annual Long Bridge Swim

SANDPOINT — In a race where the top five finishers were all within six seconds of one another, it was Lake City High’s Owen Bennett who took home the Long Bridge Swim title this year with a time of 36:00.

Bennett, a rising sophomore at Lake City High, edged out fellow teammate and rising senior Pema Anain, who won the women’s overall title in 36:03. It is now the second year in a row Anain has won the women’s title. Trace Bennett, also of Coeur d’Alene, finished in third place at just 13-years-old with a time of 36:05. Ryan Driscoll, a regular at the Long Bridge swim, finished fourth in 36:05. In fifth was another familiar face, Adam Arzner of Spokane, who swam to a time of 36:06.

Matthew Mantz, a Mead High grad and current Valparaiso University (NCAA Division I) swimmer, finished seventh in 36:35. Mantz won the Long Bridge Swim in 2022 and 2023. Dawson Cushman (36:22) and Jace Voeller (37:49), both of Hayden, finished sixth and eighth, respectively. The top Sandpoint local was Sandpoint High rising freshman Lou Foust, who finished 10th overall with a time of 38:06, almost three whole minutes faster than his time last year.

Courtney Chase, a 42-year-old from Coeur d’Alene, was the second overall female with a time of 40:36. Chase was the first female finisher of CDA’s open water 2K swim at Sanders Beach last year. Riley Taylor, a 2024 Lake City High grad and Western Colorado University (NCAA Division II) commit, was the third overall female, finishing in 40:42. Sandpoint High’s Ava de Leeuw was the top female finisher from Bonner County, finishing as the fourth overall female in 40:43.

Sandpoint Sharks Swim Club members Bodi Demmons (18th, 41:05), Myelle Jensen (31st, 43:33), Ryleigh Bamer (36th, 44:34), Andrew Ford (55th, 46:28), and Josh Jackson (56th, 46:44), who won the boys’ 11-12 age division, all finished amongst the top 60 swimmers. Sandpoint Sharks head coach Emily Renzini was 81st with a time of 49:28. The Long Bridge Swim, which is 1.76 miles in distance, had a total of 659 swimmers from all over the United States on Saturday.

This year’s oldest finisher was Jim Fry. At 83-years-old, Fry clocked an impressive 54:50 to finish 134th overall.

In addition to all the spectacular finishes, Swim Director Jim Zuberbuhler said his favorite thing about the swim is the opportunity it provides for so many people each year to attempt it for the first time, even if they aren’t sure they can make it across the lake.

“With over 60 safety kayakers, 10 bridge spotters, medical professionals, the Bonner County Sheriff's Marine Division and dive team members, as well as timing staff and other volunteers, we are able to ensure that swimmers can take a shot at the swim, feel safe and have fun,” Zuberbuhler said.

Zuberbuhler wanted to extend his thanks to all the volunteers who help put on the Long Bridge Swim each year, to the swim sponsors, who underwrite the swim safety classes, and for the support provided for lifeguard training and other swimming related initiatives. Since 2009, the Long Bridge Swim Committee estimates they have now helped over 10,000 students between Bonner and Boundary County receive free swimming lessons. 

As always, the proceeds of the Long Bridge Swim goes towards helping local youths receive free swim lessons. The swim raises roughly $25,000 to $30,000 annually in order to make that happen. Beyond just swim lessons in Sandpoint, Swim Director Jim Zuberbuhler said that this is now the second year the Long Bridge Swim will bring down third graders from Bonners Ferry for three-day water safety classes at the YMCA. Zuberbuhler said it is also the second summer the Long Bridge Swim will be able to give three weeks of swim lessons to kids in Priest River and Laclede. 

MALE

Overall — 1, Owen Bennett, 36:00. 13-14 — 3, Trace Bennett, 36:05; 10, Lou Foust, 38:06; 13, Benjamin Morgan, 40:24. 15-19 — 6, Dawson Cushman, 36:22; 8, Jace Voeller, 37:49; 9, Allen Klingel, 38:03. 20-24 — 7, Matthew Mantz, 36:35; 62, Hayden Leavitt, 47:18; 66, Ethan Ingalls, 47:34. 25-29 — 63, Jacob Manfred, 47:19; 96, Joseph O’Brien, 51:05; 191, Jordan Henry, 58:41. 30-34 — 98, Jacob Shultz, 51:32; 100, Spencer McCartney, 51:43; 109, Noah Johnson, 52:22. 35-39 — 5, Adam Arzner, 36:06; 21, Michael Cohee, 41:43; 58, Maximilian Zavodny, 46:47. 40-44 — 4, Ryan Driscoll, 36:05; 12, Trent Shino, 39:55; 22, Brendan Lang, 42:03. 45-49 — 28, Jeff Rigg, 43:20; 40, Richard Edge, 45:21; 42, Benjamin Atkinson, 45:34. 50-54 — 37, Kip Taylor, 44:37; 54, John Guin, 46:25; 102, Scott Krajack, 51:54. 55-59 — 45, Jim Jordan, 45:50; 77, Todd Cory, 48:57; 84, Andrew Geiszler, 49:58. 60-64 — 74, Jeffrey Brown, 48:27; 80, David Anderson, 49:26; 97, Aaron Kelson, 51:20. 65-69 — 25, Jay Calhoun, 42:41; 33, Rob Davis, 43:44; Carlos Miguel Delgado, 52:16. 70-74 — 46, Larry Krasuer, 45:53; 197, Timothy Quinn, 58:59; 233, Jackson Crutsinger, 1:01:09. 75-79 — 204, Robert Owens, 59:32; 503, Louis Vigorita, 1:24:17; 549, Gail Ater, 1:29:53. 80-plus — 134, Jim Fry, 54:50; 300, Don Henry, 1:05:57.

FEMALE

Overall — 2, Pema Anain, 36:03. 11-12 — 31, Myelle Jensen, 43:33; 73, Savannah Ferris, 48:19; M. Morgan, 50:02. 13-14 — 19, Raegan Greiner, 41:09; 39, Morgan Herr, 45:17; 69, Alivia Storms, 47:56. 15-19 — 16, Riley Taylor, 40:42; 17, Ava de Leeuw, 40:43; 20, Rachel Nicholls, 41:36. 20-24 — 53, Isabella Seagrave, 46:11; 105, Payton Bokowy, 52:01; 124, Anna Kelly, 53:24. 25-29 — 72, Sophie Britzmann, 48:10; 82, Mia Goodwin, 49:34; 91, Theresa Adams, 50:50. 30-34 — 51, Rachel Tkach, 46:05; 79, Della Goos, 49:03; 81, Emily Renizi, 49:28. 35-39 — 60, Caitlin Eller, 46:50; 71, Alex McAnally, 48:09; 75, Daryn Maughan, 48:48. 40-44 — 15, Courtney Chase, 40:36, 48, Erika Conner, 45:59, 67, Danielle McVey, 47:44. 45-49 — 101, Kathleen Van Herk, 51:46; 132, Jamie Lynn Wooten, 54:14; 200, Danielle Demmons, 59:09. 50-54 — 83, Cynthia Rust, 49:39; 89, Teresa Bailey, 50:23; 114, Ann Hill, 52:38. 55-59 — 131, Cheryl Hubbard, 54:14; 165, Caroline Keegan, 56:57; 189, Jennifer West, 58:28. 60-64 — 34, Myla Houlihan, 43:56; 113, Lynn Gross, 52:38; 123, Jan Lavkulik, 53:17. 65-69 — 76, Brenda Craft, 48:56; 142, Jean Hoffman, 55:51; 182, Connie Phillips, 58:08. 70-74 — 235, Elin Zander, 1:01:18; 323, June Fogerty, 1:07:59; 341, Lori Clarke, 1:09:30. 75-79 — 336, Susan Hales, 1:08:55. 80-plus — No finishers.

    Lake City High rising sophomore Owen Bennett took home the Long Bridge Swim title on Saturday after finishing with a time of 36:00.
  

    Sandpoint's Bodi Demmons, 14-years-old, nears the Long Bridge Swim finish line. Demmons finished 18th overall with a time of 41:05.

    Lake City High's Pema Anain crosses the finish line as the first place overall female, and second place finisher overall.