Swimmers expect IMC title repeat
BSC member Maddie Olsen swims her best event, the 100 butterfly, at the Bend City Invitational.
February 10, 2009 • ELISE BURRI
Filed under Sports
Elise Burri
Eye of the Storm Staff Writer
The Storm headed into the 2009 season expecting to own the pool once again.
The girls swim team has a perfect seven of seven wins in the Intermountain Conference District Championship, and the boys team follows with five of seven titles.
The boys captured their fourth state title last February with a 29-point team win over second-place Corvallis.
The girls placed sixth in state with Christy Rogers, the IMC’s fastest swimmer, leading the way.
Taking charge for the Storm men again this year are juniors Nic Morrell, Paul Hartmeier and Mason Allen.
Morrell earned a first place finish in the Class 5A state meet last year in the 200-meter freestyle. Hartmeier followed with a first in the 500 freestyle and Allen finished second swimming the 100 butterfly.
However, the girls have some major hurdles to overcome. They have lost their top racer, Christy Rogers, who recently underwent surgery for an aortic aneurysn.After winning the 11-team Hood River Valley Invitational 259-148, the boys claimed victory in the Bend Holiday Invitational swim meet as expected, defeating runner-up Redmond 422-336. Bend placed third.
Morrell won both the 50 and 100 freestyle and Losch added wins in the 500 freestyle and 100 backstroke.
The girls were knocked off by the Bend Lava Bears 404-402.
The Storm girls won the 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay. Suzanne Foster took 1st in the 50 and 500 freestyle. Jenna Moore won the 100 backstroke.
“The girls need to work hard and step up to take districts. I know we can do it if we put our minds to it,” said Bend Swim Club member Maddie Olsen, who will swim the 500 freestyle and 100 butterfly in districts.
The Storm defeated the Bend Lava Bears in the Bend City Invitational, finishing with a combined team score of 397 over Bend’s 339.
The boys team took 1st with senior Anthony Corso narrowly winning the 50-yard freestyle in 23.23 and the 100 freestyle over teammate Hartmeier by a mere second.
Sophomore Chris Nyaradi crushed his opponents, taking first in the 100 butterfly and first in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:06.41.
“I’m swimming the 200 and 500 freestyle and the 200 individual medley at Districts. I hope to make finals and go to state,” said Nyaradi. “I think the boys will take state again.”
Bend Swim Club member Brooke Walsh won both the 200 individual medley and 100 backstroke.
“I am hoping to place second in the 200 freestyle and the 100 backstroke at districts,” said Walsh.
Girls team captain Moore and Olsen claimed 2nd and 3rd place spots in the 500 freestyle, respectively.
Summit girls finished with a 138 score under Bend’s 191.
Both swim teams now prepare for the Intermountain Conference (IMC) district meet held in La Grande on Feb. 13.
“The team has improved a lot and we are really cheering each other on. I’m hoping for a first in the 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke, but there is a lot of stiff competition,” said Corso.
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