By Mike Weber
For Columbia Gorge News
HOOD RIVER - The Hood River Valley High Eagles’ boys and girls swim teams competed in their seventh meet of the season Jan. 27 at the Shute Park Aquatic Center in Hillsboro, where both squads won.
HRV, guided by first-year head Coach Keith Ebbert, won the boys meet over Hillsboro High, 84-79; the Eagle girls won, 118-49.
“It was a really good experience for our teams since they both won the meet,” said Ebbert. “We had some kids who recorded personal best times. There was nothing particularly exceptional, but the kids are all really starting to come around. I think that they’re excited to taper and get ready to race at the district meet.”
The Eagle boys won four events and the girls 10. The 15-member Eagle boys squad was led by freshman Quinn Henderson (win, three top-threes), senior Felipe Yahir Mendez (two wins, three top-threes) and sophomores Kane Wagner (two wins) and Liam McGeeney (two wins). The quartet won the 200 medley relay (1 minute, 50.44 seconds) and took second in the 400 freestyle relay (3:33.63).
Yahir Mendez, Wagner and McGeeney each won individual events, as well. Mendez won the 100 breaststroke (1:06.64), Wagner won the 100 freestyle (53.47), and McGeeney took first place in the 50 free (23.87). Francisco Solberg, Braden Lane, Logan Griffith and Carson Tokstad were second in the 200 medley relay (2:15.49).
McGeeney, Yahir Mendez, Wagner, Francisco Solberg, Charlie Marcotte and Logan Griffith are returning state qualifiers.
The 18-member girls squad was led by seniors Delaney Hackett (win, four top-threes) and Sophie Helleberg (four wins), sophomore Luca Montague (four wins), junior Ohnyxa Heredia Merida (three wins, four top-threes), Ava Giordano (three wins, four top-threes), and freshman Grace Roulette. Helleberg, Montague, Heredia Merida, Giordano and Roulette each won individual events and also were on winning relays.
Montague won the 200 free (2:23.92) and she was followed by teammates Cora Eby (2:42.41) and Layla Williams (2:48.58). Helleberg won the 100 free (1:01.60) and she combined with Heredia Merida, Montague and Giordano to win the 200 medley relay (2:03.40).
The quartet of Montague, Giordano, Helleberg and Roulette swam to first place in the 400 free relay (4:23.66). Helleberg won the 100 backstroke (1:14.93) and she was followed by teammates Leah Sandoval (1:21.09) and Delaney Hackett (1:21.76) for another 1-2-3 HRV finish. Helleberg also won the 100 free (1:01.60). Montague won the 100 breaststroke (1:17.75) and Roulette won the 200 IM (2:37.45). Heredia Merida took second in the 500 free (6:42.73), followed by Williams in third (7:32.48).
Helleberg, Heredia Merida, Giordano and Hackett are returning state qualifiers.
“One really interesting thing for me is that we have a blind swimmer on the girls team,” said Ebbert. “She will participate as a para-athlete at districts, and she’ll have a good chance to qualify for state in her two events. It’s highly possible that she’ll be a contender and compete for a state championship.”
The Eagles will host Centennial on Feb. 5 - Senior Night - at 4 p.m. at the Hood River Aquatic Center. Eagle seniors Sandoval, Clementine VanDeHey, Lilah Hibdon, Helleberg, Hackett and Meg Donnelly, and Marcotte, Yahir Mendez, Solberg and Moshe Tsypin will be honored.
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