Sandpoint Sharks sizzle at Sizzlin’ Summer Splash

MOSES LAKE, Wash. — Earning more personal bests and top podium placements, 28 members of the Sandpoint Sharks swim team competed at the Manta Ray Aquatics' Sizzlin’ Summer Splash meet held July 11 through July 13 at Surf n’ Slide Waterpark.

Coaches Emily Renzini and Sophie Britzmann, both former swimmers at the University of Idaho, emphasized how proud they are of their team’s performance, progress, and individual accomplishments.

“It’s not about the outcome of a race," Britzmann said. "I am proud to see our swimmers come back from a tough race, knowing they did well and that they made progress in some way. Of course, we love to see a deserved first-place finish or 20-second drop in the 100 free, but it’s about the process of getting there and [acknowledging] that every race counts.”

Renzini concurred and said that despite the hot weather, her athletes were taking to the blocks with a "win this race" attitude every time out.

“We're now preparing for long course champs, so the next couple of weeks will be a bit of hard work, then taper and race visualization," Renzini said. "This meet was a great stepping stone towards one of our last meets of the summer season."

The Inland Empire Swimming Long Course Championships will be held July 25 through July 27 at Memorial Pool in Pasco, Wash.

GIRLS

13-14 AGE DIVISION

Myelle Jensen, 13, had numerous great swims that were on par with her seed times, even improving by 11 seconds in the 200-meter back with a time of 2:43.84. She finished out the meet with one gold, two silvers, and three bronze. Addy Tyler, 14, swam the 400 free for the first time ever, finishing with a mark of 7:37.01. She swam to new personal bests in all seven of her events.

11-12 AGE DIVISION

Charley Rain-Olpin, 11, won the High Point Award after swimming to new personal best times in all eight of her events, garnering two golds, one silver, and four bronze. Most notably, she grabbed a gold medal in the 50 fly with a time of 34.73 seconds, a new personal best by nearly nine seconds. Allyson Ballard, 12, swam to five new personal bests of her own, which included a first-place finish in the 50 free with a time of 30.89 seconds, a drop in time by nearly five seconds. She finished the meet with two golds, two silvers, and one bronze. Charlie Creager, 11, swam to new personal best times in all three of the events she competed in. In the 50 free, she swam to a time of 52.90 seconds, a nearly 17-second time drop, to win her heat.

8U AGE DIVISION

Kate Bracht, 8, had another amazing meet, capturing the High Point Award to go along with five golds and one silver. She swam to new personal bests in all six of the events she competed in, which included the 100 breast, 50 back, 50 free, 50 fly, 100 back and 100 free.

BOYS 

15O AGE DIVISION

Sandpoint High rising sophomore Lou Foust, 15, powered through his swims with precision, matching his seed times almost exactly across seven different events, something coach Renzini said is to be expected right before tapering for the IES Long Course Championships. He finished third in the 200 back with a mark of 2:33.49.

13-14 AGE DIVISION

Joshua Jackson, 13, swam to personal bests in all eight of the events he competed in, most notably in the 50 free, where he excitingly broke the 30-second barrier and placed ninth with a time of 29.64 seconds.

9-10 AGE DIVISION

Isaac Good, 9, dropped time in all four of the events he participated in, winning some of his heats along the way. He shaved 51 seconds off his previous best 100 breast time, finishing eighth in 2:09.32. Nolan Jacobson, 10, swam in his first meet ever and earned himself a seventh-place ribbon in the 50 fly with a time of 1:11.32. Carter Hutchens, 10, swam to a handful of new personal bests. He placed sixth in the 50 fly with a mark of 1:00.34 and fifth in the 50 breast with a mark of 58.66 seconds.

8U AGE DIVISION

Gideon Good, 7, competed in his first meet ever and propelled himself to a great debut time of 1:35.32 in the 50 free.