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SPORTS News:

As the swim season turns toward championship competitions in February, the Hilltopper Swim- Dive team showed a promising preview of what’s to come.

At Santa Fe’s Griffin Invitational, the girls rode several season-best swims to place second out of 18 teams, with 403 points. Albuquerque Academy took first with 430, and Clovis finished third with 332 points.

Also powered by season-best swims, the boys placed second out of 19 teams with 296 points, behind Academy with 334 points and ahead of Santa Fe High at third with its 239 points.

Other teams competing included Santa Fe Prep, Bosque School, Hobbs, Cottonwood Classic, St. Pius X, St. Micheals, as well as Gallup, Farmington, and Taos.

For the first time this season, the meet followed a format that held preliminary rounds Thursday (diving) and Friday (swimming), followed by finals on Saturday. Points were only awarded on Saturday and so having athletes get into the finals was important.

“The team rose to the challenge this weekend,” head coach Pat Brug said. “Our team goal was for each swimmer to have at least one season best swim. The team rose to the challenge and not only season-best, but break-through, personal best swims that put us in finals for almost every event.”

Sopia Pieck continued her Freestyle success with a first place finish in the 100 and a second place in the 50. Allie Holland took nearly 4 seconds off her season-best time to win first place in the 100 Butterfly. Junior, Catherine Price, had a strong swim in the 200 Freestyle and placed third. Freshmen Michelle Lo and Samantha Clayton translated their best times in the 50 Freestyle to take fifth and twelfth places respectively.

For the boys, Thomas Daligault swam season best times to bring home a first place in the 100 Breaststroke and a fourth in the 100 Butterfly. Zane Pedersen placed second in the 50 Freestyle with a time of 22.06 seconds, another personal best in that event. Will Borovina took nearly 4 seconds off his 200 Freestyle time to place third with a time of 1:52.50. Takeshi Shiina made his best times of the season to place third in the 200 Individual Medley and eighth in the 100 Butterfly.

Contributing to the boy’s strong finish, diver Asher Koh placed third in a field of nine. Asher also contributed to the 200 Freestyle relay (C Team).

The team depth showed itself in the number of swimmers who made the finals and did well:

• Three swimmers placed in the final 16 of the 200 Freestyle: Catherine Price (3), Deb Brug (13), and Malin Eidenbenz (14).
• Five swimmers placed in the final 16 of the girls 100 Freestyle: Sohpia Pieck (1), Michelle Lo (5), Samantha Clayton (6), Emma Riede (15), Emilie Daligault (16).
• Four swimmers placed in the final 16 in the 200 Individual Medley: Sonya Pakin (6), Lena Ronning (7), Emilie Daligault (13), Grace Evans (15).
• Three swimmers placed in the 50 Freestyle: Sophia Pieck (2), Michelle Lo (5), and Samantha Clayton (12).
• Three swimmers placed in the 100 Butterfly: Allie Holland (1), Sonya Pakin (8), and Alama Hurlocker (15).
• Four swimmers placed in the final 16 of the 100 Breaststroke: Lena Ronning (5), Alma Hurlocker (6), Grace Evans (8), Anna Kerstiens (15).

The boys fielded a smaller team of swimmers but still placed three swimmers in several finals.

• 50 Freestyle: Zane Pedersen (2), Ammon Lee (7), Jace Sestric (10).
• 100 Butterfly: Zane Pedersen (3), Thomas Daligault (4), Takeshi Shiina (8).
• 100 Freestyle: Will Borovina (6), Jace Kerstiens (7), Zach Sestric (13).

“The team has such amazing depth. Both the boy and girls A and B 200 Freestyle relays swam under state qualifying times– that’s a total of 16 swimmers,” noted Coach Brug., adding “The way everyone supports each other really makes this team special.”

Strong relay performances also lifted the team.

In the girls 200 Medley:

• Sixth place (Allie Holland, Grace Evens., Sonya Pakin., Anna Kerstiens) and
• Thirteenth place (Deb Brug, Alma Hurlocker, Emilie Daligault, Ellie Rosette).

The boys finished third in the boys 200 medley (Will Borovina, Thomas Daligault, Takeshi Shiina, Zane Pedersen).

In the 200 Freestyle relay:

• Girls Fourth place (Lena Ronning, Emilie Daligault, Michelle Lo, Sophia Pieck)
• Girls Sixth place (Samantha Clayton, Deb Brug, Emma Riede, Anna Kerstiens).
• Boys Second place (Zane Pedersen, Takeshi Shiina, Thomas Daligault, Will Borovina)
• Boys Seventh place (Zach Sestric, Jace Kerstiens, Ammon Lee, Tyghe Tripp).

These swimmers earned State qualifying times at the Griffin:

Samantha Clayton: Girls 50 and 100 Freestyle
Catherine Price: 100 Freestyle
Allie Holland: Girls 100 Backstroke
Ammon Lee: 50 and 100 Freestyle

This week the team travels to Academy for the Tom Casey Classic Feb. 1, which will be the last meet for the team before Districts Feb. 6-8 and State Feb. 20-22.

Courtesy photo

Courtesy photo