BOISE — Some of Sandpoint's finest youth swimmers spent another weekend representing the city and the Inland Empire at a regional competition last weekend.  

Charily-Rain Olpin, Myelle Jensen, Allyson Ballard and Joshua Jackson all participated in the 2026 Western Zone Age Group Championships in Boise, competing against the premier swimmers in the Western United States. Sandpoint Sharks head coach Emily Renzini said that qualifying for the Zone Team is a tremendous accomplishment which reflects their commitment to improving their craft. 

"A meet like the Western Zone Age Group Championships provides young athletes with much more than the opportunity to post fast times," Renzini said. "Swimmers learn how to prepare for multiple days of competition, handle the pressure of championship racing and compete against athletes they may not normally see at local meets." 

Renzini highlighted Jackson's performance in the 200-meter freestyle, where he advanced to the finals. Fresh off a third-place overall finish at the Long Bridge swim two weeks ago, Jackson put on a show in the finals, finishing 14th overall with a 2:05.02 final time.  

The Sharks head coach said reaching the finals is an accomplishment in and of itself, with the 14-year-old Jackson competing against the best of the best in the west. Renzini added that the advancement speaks to Jackson's growth in high-pressure situations throughout the day. 

"For Jackson and the Sharks, earning a spot in a Zone championship final is a milestone that will provide valuable experience as he continues to develop as a competitive swimmer," Renzini said. 

Olpin, Jensen and Ballard gained valuable experience at the event while representing Sandpoint with pride, Renzini said. In her age group, Olpin made the 200-meter and 100-meter freestyle finals, finishing eighth out of 16 competitors with a 2:18.37 final time in the 200-meter event. 

Jensen advanced to the 100-meter backstroke final in her age group and finished 12th with a 1:12.50 time. The 14-year-old Jensen and Ballard also participated in several relay events for the Inland Empire team. 

“Having four Sandpoint Sharks qualify for the Inland Empire Zone Team is something our entire club can be proud of,” Renzini said. “These athletes have worked extremely hard throughout the season, and earning the opportunity to compete at Zones is a great reward for that dedication. Seeing Joshua make the 200-meter freestyle final was especially exciting, and all four swimmers represented Sandpoint and their teammates incredibly well.” 

The success of these four continues a very strong summer season for the youth swimming club. Last week, Lou Foust and Andrew Ford represented the club at the Western Zone Senior Long Course Championships, establishing the Sharks as a rising club in the region, Renzini said. 

"The Sharks' four Zone Team athletes now return home with championship experience, new goals and plenty to be proud of," Renzini said. "The success of Olpin, Jensen, Ballard and Jackson at Western Zone Age Group Championships represents another exciting step forward for the club, and a glimpse of what these young athletes can accomplish in the years ahead."