Eagle swimmers eager to get back into pool

“In the next two weeks, we’ll be finalizing what events each of the kids will be competing in at the district meet,” said Rawding. “At the middle of the season, we don’t really worry about what they’re timing in at in their events. The kids are not going to swim season best times when they get into the pool at every meet. It can be very frustrating when you’re always comparing yourself to what you’ve done in the past. What we like to do is just work on something different at each meet, and just have some good events and focus on racing and not worry about times.”

The 29-member Eagle girls squad is led by two-time OSAA state qualifier Michelle Graves, one of seven seniors. Graves, teammates Sophia Cross, Sophia Helleberg and sophomore Delaney Hackett qualified in the 200-meter medley relay at the 2023 state swim meet. Other seniors on the Eagles’ girls squad include Avery Walker, Anna Southhall, Esme Price, Namfon Paphanchith, and Lillian Dupuis.

“Michelle is a doing a great job of leading our girls as our team captain; she’s a good leader and she’s doing really well this season,” said Rawding. “We have a great group of seniors and they’re all doing a great job of leading the team; they’re a wonderful group of young adults.”

Graves, Hackett and 2023 HRV graduates Emma Titus and Abby Tomlinson took fifth place in the 200 free relay to earn state meet medals and get a prestigious podium appearance a season ago. Cross and Helleberg also qualified for the 400 free relay last year at the state meet.

Graves has enjoyed a remarkable Hood River Valley High School swimming career; she won a championship last season in NWOC district meet in the 200-freestyle relay. In 2022, Graves won the Intermountain Conference District title in the 100 breaststroke. In 2021, Graves helped lead the Eagles to IMC district titles in two relays while she also won individual district championships in the 100 breaststroke and 200 individual medley. There wasn’t a state meet in 2021 and events that year were not sanctioned by the OSAA because of COVID restrictions.

The 12-member Eagle boys squad is led by 2023 state qualifiers Jackson Bullock, Max Webster and Caiden Titus. The Eagle boys squad qualified in three relays last year at the state meet. Titus, a junior, swam on two relays and he also earned a medal-winning podium appearance with a fifth-place finish in the 100 freestyle.

“We’re hoping to get kids qualifying in the state meet this year in some relays and we’re hoping to get some wild card entrants, too, which would be great,” Rawding said. “Our boys teams is led by seniors Jackson and Owen Sheppard, who have both been swimming really well all season. Our girls team should also have a pretty good chance of reaching state, as well, in several events.”

The Eagles’ last practice prior to this week was Jan. 10 because of the recent inclement weather.

“It’s hard to win events at the district meet and we don’t worry about winning, but we’re more concerned about just doing our best, seeing where we placed and hope we get some wild cards and if we get some wins, that’s awesome,” said Rawding. “Missing so much practice time recently hasn’t necessarily been in our best interest, so that’s made it tough and more challenging for everybody. We have a wonderful group of young adults who are having a great season and we’re looking forward to getting back into the pool so that the kids can continue working hard like they always do so that we can end the season with a bang.”

The NWOC district meet is Feb. 9-10 at Parkrose High School. The OSAA state swim meet is Feb. 16-17 at the Tualatin Hills Aquatic Center in Beaverton.