Sandpoint Sharks wrap up short course season at IES Jr. Championships
Bonner County Daily Bee | UPDATED 4 days, 19 hours AGO
Sandpoint Sharks swimmers and coaches are all smiles after a successful performance at the Inland Empire Swimming Junior Championships held Feb. 13 through 15 at Washington State University's Gibb Pool.
(Courtesy Photo)
PULLMAN — Nine swimmers from the Sandpoint Sharks swim club qualified and competed at the Inland Empire Swimming Junior Championships held Feb. 13 through 15 at Washington State University's Gibb Pool.
"I'm really happy about our kids' swims," Sandpoint Sharks coach Sophie Britzmann said. "They gave it their all, despite our small group, and surprised us coaches with some fast swimming and making finals, which is always exciting and an honor to witness."
Competing in the girls' 9-10 age division, Kate Bracht (9) placed third in the 200 IM (3:06.07), the 100 free (1:13.35), the 100 IM (1:23.30) and the 50 fly (37.53); fourth in the 200 free (2:50.47) and the 50 free (33.09); and sixth in the 100 back (1:26.32) and the 100 fly (1:37.52).
Charlie Johnson (10) placed second in the 200 IM (3:00.75), the 50 back (37.10) and the 100 free (1:11.06); third in the 200 free (2:41.81), the 50 free (31.66), and the 100 back (1:19.17); and fourth in the 100 fly (1:32.53) and the 100 IM (1:23.71) for the Sharks, which placed eighth out of 14 teams in combined team scoring with 147 points.
Bracht and Charlie Johnson also combined with Emerson Johnson (8) and Zoey Travnicek (10) to take home a silver medal in the girls' 10-and-under 200 medley relay (3:04.97).
Brylee Garvin (14), coming off a six-week injury, won the 50 free (31.42) competing in the girls' 13-14 age division. McKinley Hull (13) also qualified for the finals in the 50 free, finishing seventh (33.99), and put together a new personal best in the 100 free (1:17.06) for an eighth-place finish.
Among other Sharks competing were Noelle Altemus, who won her heat with a new personal best in the 50 free (1:06.94), Carter Hutchens, who placed ninth in the 200 breast (3:55.03), which he competed in for the first time, and Thomas Travnicek (8), who was behind the blocks and ready to race at all times as competed in his first ever championship meet.
"For the amount of swimmers we had at the meet, we made sure we were seen," coach Britzmann added. "This was a great meet to wrap up short course for these swimmers."