Scott Swanson
As is true of other sports this year, things have been strange for Sweet Home’s swimmers.
The pool was closed to club or community swimming for much of last year following the implementation of the COVID-19 shutdowns. And now the Huskies are starting the season in late May, six months later than they usually would be kicking things off. Plus, the season’s going to be half the length of the usual and will end in late June.
Still, it’s a season and the Huskies are as ready as circumstances have allowed, Coach Doug Peargin said as he begins his 47th year at the helm.
Sweet Home had 20 swimmers on its roster at the end of last week, as competition began.
Although All-American Megan Hager has moved on to Colorado State, the girls still will be strong, though maybe not as deep as usual – they have 13 swimmers, which is about three-quarters of the team they had to start the 2019-20 season.
But the good news is the return of juniors Malia Hewitt, Chloe Tyler and Jamie Seward, all of whom have state titles in their résumés.
Hager, Jamie Seward, Malia Hewitt and Chloe Tyler set a state record to win the 200-yard freestyle relay last year with a time of 1:39.65. They also won the 200 Medley Relay in a school-record 1:47.93.
Tyler returns after finishing her sophomore swim season with a an individual school record and state title in the 100 backstroke (58.21), in which Seward placed third in that final last year.
Hewitt placed second last year at state in the 200 Individual Medley (2:11.87) and the 100 Breaststroke in a school-record 1:05.87.
Also returning with state championship experience are junior Isabel Sayer, who was 11th in the 500 Freestyle (5:53.5) and also swam a leg in the 200 Medley Relay prelims to get the Huskies to the final, and senior Hunter Calderwood, who was 12th in the 500 Freestyle.
“I think our guys will be a little stronger than last year,” Coach Doug Peargin said. We didn’t graduate any seniors and these kids pretty well know the events they are best in.”
Also back for the boys are juniors Bill Hawken, Micah Wright, Jacob Kennedy, Vince Drake and Vince Lopez. Freshman Ben Tolman joins the team as well, and brings some athleticism that will improve the roster, Peargin said.
“Hopefully, Ben can pick up for us and help us in a couple of spots.
“Bill Hawken and Micah Wright are both pretty solid. They both made consolation at district last year, and we have Jake Kennedy back in the backstroke. I think we’ll be stronger than last year.”
With Hager gone, the girls have “lost a little bit,” Peargin acknowledged, but he noted the state experience that is returning and said he has freshmen on the girls side as well who look promising.
“They’re hard workers,” he said. “So far, I’ve been impressed.”
The girls roster also includes Taryn Abbott, Meagan Baham, Alaina Curtis, Ivy Dewitte, Iris Erickson, Rylee Markell, Olivia Martineau, Nora Pettner and Maren Weld.
The Huskies opened their season Friday at home against Blanchet Catholic.
The short season is “going to be tough,” he said. “Time-wise, it’s going to be tough to match times when we have half the time to prepare.”
Sweet Home is known for its daily doubles morning-and-afternoon swims, which are already under way for the experienced swimmers, Peargin said. “They’re all working. We’re doing doubles a couple of days a week and almost all of them are making that.”
“They’re working hard.”
This year Peargin is splitting coaching duties with A. Jay Bronson, Sweet Home’s swimming pool supervisor.
“A. Jay’s been helping me,” he said. “He’s got the sprinters and I’ve got middle distance and distance. It’s really cool. He’s got three lanes and I’ve got three lanes. He’s got his sets and I’ve got my sets and we’re going at them.
Bronson swam in high school and in college in Arizona.
“He knows what he is doing,” Peargin said. “He’s had them do some drills I’ve never seen before. It’s good stuff.
At last count, the Huskies will swim seven meets this season, with district finals on June 18-19, hosted by Sweet Home. State will be June 25-26 at Cottage Grove.
Sweet Home has won seven straight district titles on the girls side, but this year Stayton could provide some resistance.
“Stayton has the best boys and girls team they’ve had in years,” he said. “We can beat them on top but they’ve got numbers equal to or better than our second people. We can get hurt number-wise by them.
“Marist, with entire pick of town of Eugene, always has good people.”
He said the Huskies, if they swim well, should be able to win at district.
“The guys, we’ll place better than we placed last year “if we have a good meet.”
ISABEL SAYER swims the Medley Relay.