February 15, 2008

It was an up-and-down season for the Hood River Valley swim team, but at the end of it there is one bright spot for the Eagles.

A quarter of the team qualified for state.

The Eagles’ Erin Jones is headed to the state swim meet in the girls 200-yard freestyle, while Peter Debbaut qualified in the 100-yard breast stroke and as part of the 200-yard medley relay team.

Eagles coach Jane Nichols, who will be losing her entire boys team after the state meet, said she is happy for what her team accomplished considering its small numbers, and limited practice days. She was particularly impressed with the performance of Jones, who had to start the season a month late after going to state for cross country in the fall.

“They’re a good bunch of kids,” she said.

Now, she says, whatever happens at state is out of her hands.

“Really, its up to them now,” she said. “When they get on the blocks it between them and their head.”

The state meet will be held Thursday through Saturday at Mt. Hood Community College in Troutdale.