Hood River News

January 21, 2006

With only a handful of meets left before districts, the Hood River Valley High School swim team continues to progress, post best times and approach automatic state qualifying times for individual events. The Eagles hosted a dual meet against Centennial on Tuesday at the Hood River Aquatic Center, and after several rounds racing, the girls came away with a 191-72 win and the boys with a 164-77 win.

Of the meet’s 11 events, the girls posted nine first places and 27 best times; the boys posted eight firsts and 22 best times.

“The kids did really well,” Coach Jane Nichols said. “Posting that many best times is just amazing. An exciting part of the meet is that Zed Debbaut came within three-tenths of a second of posting an automatic state time in both the 50 meter freestyle and the 100 meter breast stroke.”

Although posting or beating a state time only qualifies a swimmer if it’s posted at the district meet, Debbaut’s proximity to the time is reason for excitement because he’s almost guaranteed to improve in the weeks leading up to districts.

At districts, the individual champion from each event is the only swimmer guaranteed to advance to state. Other than winning an event, the only way for a swimmer to advance is to post a state time.

Each week, if deserving, one male and one female swimmer on the team receives an award called “The Golden Kickboard Award,” based on attitude, performance and effort. After the meet, swimmer Kyle Donahue received the award for the boys and Alyssa Logsdon for the girls.

“Kyle got the award for his willingness to step up to the starting blocks for the butterfly,” said Nichols. “In practice, he’s moved to the fast lane on sheer determination.

“Alyssa got it because she dropped 18 seconds from her 100-freestyle time. It’s such a treat to see someone who has come so far.”

The Eagles have only three meets remaining before districts. All three and districts will be at the Hood River Aquatic Center.

“If the kids can keep leading into it and keep their goals in sight, we should have a real good district meet,” Nichols commented. “It’s been an exciting year and it’s been a real treat to see these kids blossom.”

Meet highlights:

Girls

200 medley relay —

1st and 2nd

200 freestyle —

Erin Jones 1st

Nichole Shames 2nd

Sarah Lee 3rd

Jordan Zanmiller 4th

200 individual medley —

Ariel MacMillan 1st

Sara DeSitter 2nd

Dendra Mohar 4th

50 freestyle —

Mackenzie Baxter 1st

Kari Hidle 2nd

Fatima Valle 3rd

Alyssa Johnisee 4th

100 butterfly —

Megan Flem 1st

Danielle Shames 2nd

100 freestyle —

Kari Hidle 1st

Fatima Valle 2nd

Alyssa Johnisee 4th

500/400 freestyle —

Erin Jones 1st

Sarah Lee 2nd

Devon Beveridge

200 freestyle relay —

1st, 3rd, 4th

100 backstroke —

Kendra Mhoar 1st

Ellery Eberg 2nd

Mackenzie Baxter 3rd

Jasmin Marroquin 4th

100 breaststroke —

Ariel MacMillan 1st

Megan Flem 2nd

Sara DeSitter 3rd

Danielle Shames 4th

400 freeestyle relay —

1st, 3rd

Boys

200 medley relay —

1st

200 freestyle —

Jordan Phillips 1st

Kory Harding 2nd

Matt Hale 3rd

Zack Flaming 4th

Devin Warner 6th

200 individual medley —

Peter Debbaut 2nd

Kyle Donahue 3rd

50 freestyle —

Zed Debbaut 1st

Kory Harding 3rd

Kyle Donahue 5th

100 butterfly —

Henry Hung 2nd

Kyle Donahue 3rd

100 freestyle —

Peter Debbaut 1st

Cory Coxen 2nd

Henry Hunt 3rd

Matt Winkle 5th

500/400 freestyle —

Matt Hale 1st

Kevin Warner 2nd

200 freestyle relay —

1st, 2nd

100 backstroke —

Matt Winkle 1st

Jon Wadman 3rd

100 breast stroke —

Zed Debbaut 1st

Cory Coxen 2nd

Chris Vooster 3rd

400 freestyle relay —

2nd, 3rd