Megan Cassell and Rhys Birky
qualify for zone meet in Hawaii
Two members of the Sweet Home Swim Club have qualified to compete in the zone swimming tournament to be held August 7-11 on Maui, Hawaii.
Rhys Birky, a senior at SHHS, and Megan Cassell, 16, a junior at South Albany, made the cut on the 80 member Oregon team at the Oregon State Championships held at the Osborn Aquatic Center in Corvallis.
Birky placed in the following events: 200 freestyle, 2:06.37, eighth; 400 freestyle, 4:30.90, ninth; 50 freestyle, 26.30, 11th; 100 freestyle, 13th, 58.28; 200 I.M., 2:22.59, 10th; 100 breast stroke, 1:17.18, 13th.
He also time trialed in two events, the 400 I.M. and the 200 backstroke.
All of his times were zone qualifiers.
Cassell placed in the following events: 100 backstroke, 1:11.56, fifth; 200 backstroke, 2:32.33, 10th; 50 freestyle, 29.81, 10th; 200 I.M., 2:37.08, 10th; 100 freestyle, 1:04.19, 10th.
“Both Rhys and Megan exceeded our expectations,” said Coach Rene Kirkland. “They’ve worked very hard. Ever since Megan came on the team it’s been fun and Rhys has had a good training partner.”
Cassell started swimming eight years ago and has previously placed eighth in the high school state meet in the 100 backstroke as a freshman.
“Rene is awesome,” Cassell said. “I joined the Sweet Home team about three months ago and it’s been really good for me.”
Cassell said she is dedicated to her training.
“My goal is to swim in college and to become a doctor,” Cassell said.
Birky has been a team leader throughout his high school career, both at SHHS and on the summer swim team.
He holds the school record in the 100 freestyle of 48.3. He also was a member of the state championship team of 1999.
Coach Kirkland said the state meet was tough, with 41 teams. Sweet Home placed 23rd. The zone meet will bring in teams from across the country.
Oregon’s team will be coached by Bert Gottschalk of Bend. Coach Kirkland will assist.
Birky said he felt good at the state meet but as nervous.
“I’ve worked very hard this summer,” he said of his training.”
His efforts paid off as he dropped his time in the 200 I.M. by four seconds from the prelims to the finals.
“Both Megan and Rhys met their goals at the state meet,” Coach Kirkland said. “You couldn’t ask for two better kids to coach.”
Cassell and Birky have had to reverse their training routine after the state meet.
“We had tapered off for the state meet and now we’ve had to ramp up again for the zone meet,” Birky said. “It means more time in the water, building ourselves up again.”