Among a talented, multi-team field, SHHS swimmers finished second overall Saturday at the always strong Woodburn Invitational Swimming Meet.
Junior Rhys Birky paced the Huskies, winning the 100 breast stroke in a meet record 1:04.7 time. He slashed two seconds off the old mark. Birky also swam a leg on the winning 400 free relay team and set a sub record time in the 100 freestyle, but missed setting a new mark by coming in second place.
LaSalle took the comnbined championship with 647 points, with the Huskies following at 555. Junction City was third overall with 464 points, Woodburn, 443; and Cascade, 390 rounded out the top five.
The Husky girls were third with 222 points, behind champion Cascade with 272 and LaSalle with 262.
On the boys side, the Huskies were third with 333 points, behind LaSalle with 385 and Junction City with 341.
“We had a great team effort,” said Coach Doug Peargin. “Placing and scoring was through 16th place in every event.”
Coach Peargin said every male swimmer set at least one lifetime best during the meet.
“Rhys swam faster than his state meet time of a year ago,” Coach Peargin said. “He’s a year-round, dedicated swimmer and its paying off. He works very hard and never gets out of the water.”
Coach Peargin said he was pleased with his Huskies, especially since the team lacks depth.
“There’s been a lot of hard work go into this team,” Coach Peargin said. “We’ve had a terrible time with the flu lately, but we’re working out of it.”
Coach Peargin said the meet was the best of the season for his boys squad.
“Our goal at the beginning of the year was to earn a trophy at district by being in the top three,” Coach Peargin said. “We only have 19 days left before district and that includes swim meet days.”
Birky was the only double event winner for the Huskies while Adam Cheek, Jeff Ecker and Sean Martin brought home single individual wins.
Calendar: The Huskies will host Junction City and Sisters Thursday at 4 p.m.
Girls Results
200 medley relay: SHHS A, fourth, 2:09.6 (Yunke, Starha, Blank, Duncan); SHHS B, 12th, 2:27.5 (Jackson, VanCleave, Foucht, Fowler)
200 freestyle: Jackson, 14th, 2:40.6.
200 I.M.: Starha, fourth, 2:36.6; Foucht, 11th, 2:51.3.
50 freestyle: Duncan, 8th, 28.4; Foucht, 11th, 2:51.3.
100 butterfly: Blank, 6th, 1:16.4; Gilliland, 14th, 1:34.5.
100 freestyle: Blank, 9th, 1:06.2; Duncan, 7th, 1:04.4.
500 freestyle: Yunke, 7th, 6:22.8; VanCleave, 15th, 7:08.1.
200 free relay: SHHS A, 10th, 2:04.5 (Foucht, Jackson, Yunke, VanCleave)
100 backstroke: Yunke, 5th, 1:11.3; Foucht, 7th, 1:14.5; Fowler, 16th, 1:28.8;
100 breast: Starha, 2nd, 1:20.8.
400 free relay: SHHS A, 4th, 4:27.9 (Jackson, Duncan, Starha, Blank); SHHS B, 13th, 5:28.0 (Gourley, Fowler, Gilliland, Sieg)
Boys Results
200 medley relay: SHHS A, 2nd, 1:54.5 (Ecker, Birky, Cheek, Bate)
200 free relay: Martin, 2nd, 2:03.4; Ecker, 7th, 2:11.5; Slauson, 14th, 2:22.0.
200 I.M.: Cheek, 2nd, 2:23.8; Coutler, 8th, 2:41.7; Bate, 6th, 2:38.3.
100 butterfly: Cheek, 3rd, 1:04.3; Coulter, 6th, 1:11.9.
100 freestyle: Birky, 2nd, 49.9.
500 freestyle: Martin, 4th, 5:33.2; Bate, 7th, 6:09.6; Burford, 6th, 6:07.0; Slauson, 11th, 6:26.0.
200 free relay: SHHS A, 7th, 1:50.3 (Coulter, Burford, Slauson, Martin)
100 backstroke: Ecker, 2nd, 1:02.2; Burford, 9th, 1:15.2.
100 breaststroke: Birky, 1st, 1:04.7 (meet record)
400 free relay: SHHS A, 1st, 3:40.8 (Martin, Ecker, Cheek, Birky); SHHS B, 7th, 4:05.4 (Coulter, Burford, Slauson, Bate)