Sandpoint Sharks post number of sweet swims at Vandal Trick or Treat meet

MOSCOW — Eleven Sandpoint Sharks braved the waters this past Sunday at the Vandal Trick or Treat meet hosted by the Vandal Aquatics Club at the University of Idaho Swim Center.

Reagan Omodt, 12 years old, Carter Hutchens (11), Charlie Johnson (10), Emerson Johnson (8), Zoey Travnicek (10), Thomas Travnicek (8), Nolan Jacobson (10), Georgia Frost (12), Faye Pearson (12), Gabriel Hawkins (9) and Jake Hancock (9) all competed for Sandpoint. It was the first-ever meet for Omodt, Frost, Pearson and Thomas Travnicek.

Hutchens' hard work showed as he dropped time in a number of events, especially the 200 free relay, where he split a time of 39.81 seconds on the anchor leg. That time was over two seconds faster than the individual 50 free he swam earlier in the meet.

Johnson swam to new personal bests in all of her events, most notably in the 50 back (second, 38.46) and 50 free (fifth, 34.31). She also was third in the 50 breast (46.99), third in the 100 IM (1:23.35), fourth in the 50 fly (45.04), and had an impressive last leg in the girls 200 free relay, splitting a new personal best of 33.93 seconds.

Pearson swam her first 50 fly and 50 breast fearlessly. Frost dove off the blocks for the first time and swam the 50 fly (54.50), 50 back (50.04), 50 breast (1:10.02) and 50 free (42.42).

Hawkins swam in many new events for the first time. In the 50 back, he dropped a considerable amount of time with a mark of 51.37 seconds. Thomas Travnicek earned a fifth-place ribbon in his first-ever 50 free with a time of 1 minute, 15.43 seconds. Omodt won some of her heats and posted a time of 35.77 seconds in the 50 free in her Sharks debut.

“This meet is always a great opportunity for our swimmers to 'test the water' and get their first times recorded in a handful of events," Sandpoint Sharks head coach Emily Renzini said. "I’m very pleased with how our new swimmers did and the progress our more seasoned swimmers have made."

The Sharks put together some all-age 200 free relays at the end of meet. For the girls, Travnicek, Frost, Omodt and Johnson, competing against athletes upwards of 15 years in age, finished ninth out of 15 teams with an impressive time of 2 minutes, 39.26 seconds. Jacobson, Hutchens, Hancock and Hawkins finished their relay in 3 minutes, 31.50 seconds.

“This was a fun Halloween-themed meet — short and sweet and the kids swam their best, took some leaps, and had new experiences and improved in their racing; that’s what I like to see,” assistant coach Sophie Britzmann noted.