Hood River News

By ADAM LAPIERRE

News staff writer

February 15, 2006

For the first time since Hood River Valley High School (HRVHS) has been in the Intermountain Conference, the varsity boys’ swimming team claimed the district team title. In an unexpected series of events sparked by a Summit High School swimmer missing a race, the Summit boys, who were leading in points, had their 400-yard freestyle relay team disqualified. The Eagles were fast at Summit’s heels and the disqualification was all they needed to come away with the team title.

The Hood River Valley girls finished second as a team, behind league standout Summit High School.

Only the event winners and individuals who beat pre-set state times qualify for state. From HRVHS, four swimmers qualified for the big show, which will take place later this week in Corvallis. The boys’ 200-yard freestyle relay team of Peter Debbaut, Henry Hunt, Corey Cozen and Zed Debbaut edged Summit’s four-man squad by three-tenths of a second for a first place finish. And individually, boys’ team captain Zed Debbaut won the 100- yard breaststroke with a time of 1:00.93. The second place finisher from Summit touched the finish at 1:00.95.

For the girls’ team, the season ended Saturday with the conclusion of the 400-yard freestyle relay.

Almost everyone who swam over the weekend finished the season on a positive note. Of the 64 swims for the girls, 46 of them were best times. And of the 53 swims for the boys, they posted 51 best times.

“That’s what you aim for,” Coach Jane Nichols said. “They wanted it and they weren’t afraid to really go for it. Sometimes kids are afraid to try their absolute best. We try to teach them that they have to be confident in themselves so that if they do try their best and don’t make it, they can say, ‘at least I tried … I’m just really proud of all the kids. What tickles me the most is that they were not afraid to try.”

Several Eagles just barely missed a trip to state. Freshman Erin Jones missed first by .09 in the 200-yard freestyle. She also placed second in the 500 freestyle. Summit edged Hood River’s boys’ 200-yard medley relay team and the girls’ 200-yard freestyle relay team, putting both an arm’s reach away from a post-season.

For the four boys, however, the season continues Friday afternoon with a preliminary round, which will take the cream of the crop into Saturday’s finals. Kory Harding will be the relay team’s alternate.

“Being able to swim at state is an experience the kids can’t get anywhere else,” Nichols said. “It will be invaluable for them next year in their training because there is nothing like it out there.”

Of the five boys, four are sophomores and one a junior, which is a clear asset to the future of HRVHS swimming. The team graduates only five seniors: Meghan Flem, Nicole Shames, Kendra Mohar, Ariel MacMillan and Maggie Berlova.

“Next season, it will be the same ball game but with a whole different set of players,” Nichols said, referring to the HRVHS move from the IMC back to the Mt. Hood Conference.

Meet results:

Girls’ 200 medley relay —

Nicole Shames and

Alyssa Johnisee 5th

Boys’ 200 medley relay —

Peter Debbaut

Zed Debbaut,

Henry Hunt

Cory Coxen 2nd

Girls’ 200 yard freestyle —

Erin Jones 2nd

Alyssa Johnisee 9th

Taylor Miller 11th

Meghan Flem 12th

Boys’ 200 freestyle —

Jordan Phillips 5th

Kory Harding 7th

Kyle Donahue 8th

Kevin Warner 13th

Girls’ 200 IM —

Ariel MacMillan 4th

Sara De Sitter 11th

Danielle Shames 16th

Boys’ 200 IM —

Peter Debbaut 3rd

Jon Wadman 7th

Girls’ 50 freestyle —

Kari Hidle 6th

Fatima Valle 9th

Ellery Young 14th

Boys 50 freestyle —

Zed Debbaut 2nd

Corey Coxen 5th

Matt Hale 13th

Girls’ 100 butterfly —

Nicole Shames 6th

Boys’ 100 yard butterfly —

Peter Debbaut 3rd

Henry Hunt 6th

Kyle Donahue 9th

Girls 100 freestyle —

Fatima Valle 8th

Kari Hidle 11th

Alyssa Johnisee 13th

Boys’ 100 freestyle —

Corey Coxen 5th

Kory Harding 11th

Matt Winkle 15th

Girls’ 500 freestyle —

Erin Jones 2nd

Taylor Miller 10th

Devon Beveridge 14th

Boys’ 500 freestyle —

Jordan Phillips 7th

Matt Hale 10th

Kevin Warner 11th

Girls’ 200 freestyle relay —

Nicole Shames

Fatima Valle,

Kari Hidle

Erin Jones 2nd

Boys’ 200 freestyle relay —

Peter Debbaut

Henry Hunt

Corey Coxen

Zed Debbaut 1st

Girls’ 100 backstroke —

Ellery Young 14th

Boys’ 100 backstroke —

Matt Winkle 6th

Jon Wadman 10th

Girls’ 100 breaststroke —

Ariel MacMillan 3rd

Megan Flem 6th

Sara De Sitter 11th

Danielle Shames 14th

Boys’ 100 yard breaststroke —

Zed Debbaut 1st

Zak Flaming 10th

Chris Vooster 11th

Girls’ 400 freestyle relay —

Nicole Shames

Alyssa Johnisee

Fatima Valle

Erin Jones 3rd

Boys’ 400 freestyle relay —

Kory Harding

Henry Hunt

Jordan Phillips

Kyle Donahue 2nd