Sandpoint Sharks shine at SWAT Fall Challenge

SPOKANE — Eight Sandpoint Sharks impressed onlookers at the SWAT Fall Challenge held Saturday and Sunday at the Whitworth University Aquatics Center.

Kate Bracht, 9 years old, Isaac Good (10), Zoey Travnicek (10). Addley Nelson (8), Owen Richards (12), McKinley Hull (13), Charlie Creager (11) and Addy Gordon (12) all competed at the event, which served as the swimming club's second meet of the fall season. For Nelson and Richards, it was their first swim meets as Sharks.

Nelson swam to a time of 26.28 seconds in the 25 free to place sixth out of 18 competitors, and to a time of 28.58 seconds in the 25 back to finish eighth amongst the 19-swimmer field. Sandpoint Sharks head coach Emily Renzi said Richards, in the two events he competed in, swam with a smile on his face, even while in the pool.

Bracht, having just moved up to the 9-10 age group, swam with her signature style of confidence and motivation as she placed in all her events and recorded a handful of new personal bests in the process. Bracht won the 100 fly (1:44.82), was sixth out of 33 in the 50 back (43.32), third out of 32 in the 50 free (35.87), third out of 28 in the 100 free (1:19.93), second out of 11 in the 200 IM (3:22.35), third out of 25 in the 50 fly (44.09), third out of 28 in the 200 IM (48.60) and third out of 25 in the 100 breast (1:28.53). She also swam to a time of 8 minutes, 17 seconds in the 500 free.

Good dropped a considerable amount of time in the 100 breast (4th, 1:54.76), 50 free (13th, 45.12), 100 free (11th, 1:47.04), and 100 back (9th, 1:50.56). In addition, he swam the 200 free for the first time and posted a mark of 3 minutes, 45 seconds.

“I’d like to express how hard the 500 and 200 freestyle can be for the younger kids, especially for the first time," Sandpoint Sharks assistant coach Sophie Britzmann said. "It was amazing to watch Kate swim her 500 and Isaac swim his 200, giving it their all and coming back with great splits and final times. They deserve that recognition."

Travnicek swam to new personal bests in the 50 free (17th, 45.14) and 50 breast (16th, 1:02.56). Hull garnered notable finishes in the 100 back (30th, 1:28.45) and 100 free (38th, 1:21.89). Creager swam to a new personal best in the 50 fly (38th, 49.80) and dropped 12 seconds in the 50 free (41st, 41.42). Gordon swam to new personal bests in multiple events, most notably in the 50 fly (40th, 50.18), in which she dropped 10 seconds, and in the 50 free (29th, 35.71), in which she dropped six seconds.

“The kids were so great this past weekend," coach Britzmann said. "I saw so many personal achievements and happy faces that I couldn’t contain my joy. I was very proud of each and every one of the Sharks for all their swims."