Kristy Tallman
In a thrilling swim meet that pitted the Sweet Home Huskies against the Junction City Tigers and the Salem Academy Crusaders, the Huskies emerged victorious on both the boys and girls swim teams. The win not only secured their impressive 8-1 record for both squads but also propelled them into the highly anticipated district championship rounds.
Coach A Jay Bronson, visibly pleased with the team’s success, expressed his satisfaction, saying, “This was a great way to end the regular season. Both boys and girls finished 8-1, which is phenomenal. It’s the highest the boys have placed since 2017. Despite a tough training week, the kids were tired but still managed great time drops and kicked butt.”
Bronson’s optimism was palpable as he looked ahead to the upcoming district championship meet scheduled for February 9-10, 2024, at 10 am in South Albany. “I think we are in the right mindset for Districts and have a chance to win on both sides. This would be the 12th year in a row for girls and the first time for boys since 2007.”
Assessing the competition, Bronson highlighted potential challenges, stating, “On the boys’ side as a team, Cascade will be a bit tough, matching up with us pretty well. Marist and Philomath have some great swimmers as well. On the girls’ side, we need to look out for Salem Academy, along with a few swimmers from Stayton and Junction City.”
He acknowledged the unique challenge of district meets, noting, “The hard part about districts is that it is never 1 on 1. We can beat any team in our district head to head, but when we have to face all teams at once, it becomes a challenge. That being said, I think we can accomplish this goal and keep moving forward.”
The combined team scores reflected the Huskies’ dominance, with Sweet Home leading at 287, followed by Junction City High School at 125 and Salem Academy at 122. The women’s team maintained their excellence, with Sweet Home securing 115 points, followed by Salem Academy at 85 and Junction City High School at 84. The men’s team excelled with 172 points, leaving Junction City High School at 41 and Salem Academy at 37.
The individual events showcased the outstanding performance of Sweet Home athletes:
200 Yard Medley Relay: The girls’ team, comprising Peyton Markell, Kirsten Sautel, Payton Brookfield, and Daisy Lalonde, clinched victory. The boys’ team, led by Shayne Schuster, RJ Abbott, Blake Arthur, and Arman Marble, also emerged victorious.
200 Yard Freestyle: Peyton Markell secured 1st place for the girls, while Arman Marble dominated for the boys.
200 Yard IM: Kirsten Sautel and Austyn Hogan claimed 1st place for the girls and boys, respectively.
50 Yard Freestyle: Payton Brookfield secured 2nd place for the girls, while Blake Arthur claimed 1st place for the boys.
100 Yard Butterfly: Payton Brookfield and Blake Arthur showcased their prowess, claiming 1st place in their respective categories.
100 Yard Freestyle: Peyton Markell and RJ Abbott demonstrated their speed, securing 1st place for their teams.
500 Yard Freestyle: Lexi Rundell and Arman Marble continued the winning streak, securing 2nd and 1st place for the girls and boys, respectively.
200 Yard Freestyle Relay: Both the girls’ and boys’ teams dominated, securing 1st place.
100 Yard Backstroke: Peyton Markell and Andrew Tolman displayed their backstroke prowess, securing 1st place for their teams.
100 Yard Breaststroke: Rylee Markell and Shayne Schuster showcased their strength, claiming 1st and 2nd place for the girls and boys.
400 Yard Freestyle Relay: The boys’ team, consisting of Blake Arthur, Ben Tolman, Garrett Peake, and Rey Bumrungsri, secured 1st place, while the girls’ team claimed 2nd place.
As the Sweet Home Huskies continue their impressive run, all eyes are now on the district championship meet, where they aim to solidify their position as swimming powerhouses in the region.