Scott Swanson
Sweet Home’s girls swimming team has been chosen as OSAA’s 4A Team of the Month for February 2022.
The Huskies, who won their fourth state title this year, also delivered in the classroom, Head Coach A Jay Bronson said.
“Their grades were great,” he said. “As a team they had a 3.64 GPA and the team of girls who competed at state all had 4.00s.”
Those six were seniors Malia Hewitt, Isabel Sayer, Jamie Seward and Chloe Tyler, and freshmen Peyton Markell and Kirsten Sautel.
The other team members this season were Taryn Abbott, Megan Baham, Payton Brookfield, Tierney Clarno, Autumn Ice, Timber Nobles, Rylee Markell, Jess Martineau, Nora Pettner and Jenna Wolthuis.
Each month throughout the school year, the OSAA recognizes a varsity team of the month for each of the six classifications. Each winning team will be chosen based on performance, dedication in the classroom, and service to the community.
Each winner of the Les Schwab Tires Team of the Month award will receive a commemorative trophy and $100 will be donated to the team’s program, courtesy of Les Schwab Tires. The winning teams are celebrated by the their local Les Schwab Tires store. Winners are announced on the OSAA website and across OSAA social media platforms.
Sweet Home teams have won the award three times previously: The 2006-07 girls soccer team (3.83 GPA), the 2003-04 boys soccer team (3.79) and the 2000-01 girls cross-country team, which had a perfect 4.00.
“It’s exciting,” said Athletic Director Dan Tow. “We’ve had a great swim program for long time. That’s not necessarily a new thing. It’s just neat to see them get recognized.
“For years, Doug Peargin has been the master of that. A Jay is head coach now, though Doug is right there with him. I joked with A Jay that ‘you’ve set the bar pretty high.’
“The thing that’s cool about those girls is they’re better than just good swimmers. They’re great swimmers and good people.”
Bronson said it was nice “not to have to worry about grades” as a coach.
“They are student athletes, so ‘student’ comes first. They proved by their swimming acumen how well they’ve done. The grades have already been there, but they’re in leadership and they’re volunteering.
“They’re great student athletes.”
East Linn Christian Academy’s boys basketball team, which finished third in the Central Valley Conference but battled to a berth in the state playoffs to finish with a 21-9 season record, was also chosen, as the 2A winner.
Team members are Gavin Baker, Chayse Beachy, Tanner Israel, Cole King, Devin King, Blake Knurowski, Grant Medford, Heath Nichol, Elliot Nofziger, Nick Schermerhorn, Ashton Sewell and Gavin Sewell.