Some of the state’s powerhouse swim teams rolled into town and the Huskies were ready Saturday.
The boys didn’t have enough firepower to beat Newport, the defending state boys champions, and Marist, which is always a threat to trophy at state, but Sweet Home gave them a run for their money.
The girls used their depth to outscore the visitors, though they didn’t win as many individual events as they normally expect to.
Breeza Rodriguez had a big day, setting personal best in both of her individual events, which she won – the 200 Individual Medley and the 100 Backstroke. Rylee Markell added a win in the 100 Backstroke and the girls won both the 200 Medley and 400 Freestyle relays.
With some of the top boys 4A swimmers in the pool, the Huskies did not get any individual wins, but they placed second in the 200 Freestyle relay and RJ Abbott was second behind Newport’s Ben Hurty in the 100 Freestyle in a season’s best time for Abbott.
“It was a good meet,” Coach A Jay Bronson said. “Marist and Newport are tough teams on the guys side, for sure.”
The Huskies swam without Arman Marble and Ben Tolman, which didn’t help.
“We were missing two of our guys, but even with those two, those are just such good guys teams that it wouldn’t have made much of a dent,” Bronson said.
Despite not having let up on training, the Huskies rose to the competition with 27 personal bests. Freshman Andrew Tolman had four and Peyton Markell dropped nearly three seconds in the 100 Backstroke, in a 1-2 finish with Rodriguez.
“That shouldn’t be happening, but I’m happy when it does,” Bronson said.
The coach said that with the district meet coming up on Feb. 10 and 11, he’s happy to see his swimmers pushed.
“It’s good to have some races where we get beat here and there,” he said. “We don’t want the kids going into district thinking we don’t need to try, that we can beat anybody. We need them to put forth effort. We can beat anybody, but it’s not going to be handed to us.”
Sweet Home gets a final test at home this Friday, Feb. 3, when it hosts North Marion, Molalla and St. Mary’s of Medford.
See more photos in our online gallery.