THE DALLES — The Dalles High Riverhawk swimming teams participated in an OSAA Class 4A Special District 1 meet Jan. 23 at Molalla, where the boys won the nine-team meet with 102 points and the Riverhawk girls took second place with 113 points.
For the Riverhawk boys squad, guided by Coach Shea Macnab and assistant Coach Sarah Lawrence, the win at Molalla marked their third consecutive SD1 meet victory.
“Everyone did great at Molalla, and we had lots of swimmers who had personal best times in their events,” said Lawrence. “If they didn’t get personal bests, then they were very close to their personal best times. That’s pretty incredible at this point of the season, because we’ve been pushing them really hard in practice.”
The boys squad recorded a total of five top-three finishes, including individual event wins by senior Everest Lenardson and junior Rhett Loughmiller (three top three finishes). Lenardson won the 100 free (54.55 seconds)and combined with teammates Sawyer Dray, Maverick Varland and Loughmiller to win the 400 free relay (3:44.87). They also took second in the 200 free relay (1:40.17).
Dray, a junior, totaled four top-threes, including third place finishes in the 100 fly (1:06.81) and the 50 free (25.88).
The Riverhawk girls had six top-three finishes, including an individual event win by junior Kaiya Doty in the 100 breaststroke (1:18.29). Doty, junior Lillen Vaught, senior Laura Black and junior Riley Elliot swam to first place in the 400 free relay (4:16.21), and they finished a close second (1:52.22) to winner Valley Catholic (1:52.01) in the 200 free relay.
“We’re really proud of everyone,” said Lawrence. “We’re going to try to get first place in our last regular season meet this weekend. The boys have been doing really well. Prior to this season, I don’t think that they won a meet in quite a few years. For them to win three meets in a row is pretty cool.”
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