Article submitted by Tamara Anderson
Friday night was Senior Night at the Bruce Gresly Aquatic Center where, after the dual meet against Riverton, the senior members of the LVHS Swimming and Diving team were recognized for their hard work over the course of their high school careers. Four seniors were honored: Jenny Bautz, Sierra Firth, Kristen McPherson, and Skyler Woodruff. One of them, Sierra Firth, had an extra reason to celebrate, as she also obtained a qualifying time Friday, earning the right to join the other three and the other qualifying athletes from the team at the state finals coming up in November.
The rest of the team joined the celebration with strong performances. Lander won all but one event. Top finishers for Lander were: Emily Anderson (200 yard freestyle), Jenny Bautz (100 yard breaststroke), Lainy Duncan (200 yard IM and 100 yard butterfly), Ashlon Koch (50 yard freestyle and 100 yard freestyle), Kristen McPherson (100 yard backstroke), Skyler Woodruff (diving). Riverton’s Jazmine Wildcat took first in the 500 freestyle event.
Saturday the LVHS team traveled to Jackson for more great swimming. The Lander athletes were tired, but still powered out victories in five events. First place finishers were: Ashlon Koch (200 yard freestyle and 100 yard backstroke), Lily Hamilton (50 yard freestyle), Katelyn Brinda (500 yard freestyle), and Emily Anderson (100 yard breaststroke).
Swimming and diving sports are an interesting combination of individual and team efforts. Sometimes individual successes are more important than team results at a particular meet because they will help the team succeed in their long-term goals to score points at the state meet. This is why athletes are entered in different events at different meets throughout the season, even if those events aren’t their strongest, or even if the entries don’t always give the team the opportunity to win each event at a particular meet. Coaches Shawna Morgan, Tim Hester, and Faith Hamilton work hard to balance those different priorities and keep the all the team members motivated.
The season is also quite long—12 weeks long with multiple meets most weeks. How does a team maintain their enthusiasm across the season, especially this year where fans are limited and meets tend to be against the same regional teams? Well, Jackson decided to add some fun to the meet they hosted this week with some unusual relay events. Extra team members, piles of kickboards, and different length relay legs all led to some levity for the athletes. And it was much appreciated at this time of the season when the strenuous workouts take a toll and times tend to plateau until taper begins in a couple weeks.
This week the team has a home meet against Lyman on Friday (meets Thursday and Saturday were cancelled). Stay tuned to see how the Lander team progresses in their march toward state.
Lander-Riverton Dual
October 9, 2020
Bruce Gresly Aquatic Center
200 Yard Medley Relay: 1. Lander A (K McPherson, L Duncan, A Koch, L Hamilton) 2:02.48, 2. Riverton (M Osborne, B Mullins, J Wildcat, J Rogers) 2:15.78, 3. Lander B (K Brinda, J Bautz, M Flint, A Nachazel) 2:18.63, 4. Lander C (D Fobis, T Bautz, K Plaisted, K Winn) 2:32.05
200 Yard Freestyle: 1. E Anderson LAN 2:15.87, 2. K Brinda LAN 2:19.95, 3. S Firth LAN 2:23.16, 4. K Fisher RIV 2:26.49, 5. S McMahon LAN 2:32.24, 6. J Baron LAN 2:43.83, 7. A Tate RIV 2:46.46, 8. M Hill LAN 2:51.24
200 Yard IM: 1. L Duncan LAN 2:35.67, 2. K McPherson LAN 2:42.18, 3. M Flint LAN 2:42.72, 4. B Mullins RIV 2:44.56, 5. T Bautz LAN 2:53.36, 6. K Plaisted LAN 2:54.11, 7. K Winn LAN 3:20.36
50 Yard Freestyle: 1. A Koch LAN 26:07, 2. L Hamilton LAN 26.90, 3. M Osborne RIV 27.85, 4. A Nachazel LAN 29.29, 5. J Rogers RIV 30.24, 6. J Wildcat RIV 30.54, 7. B Mullins RIV 31.05, 8. L Munda RIV 33.34, 9. S Houtman RIV 36.37
Diving (6 dives): 1. S. Woodruff LAN 151.70, 2. E McKee RIV 144.55, 3. D Forbis LAN 130.85
100 Yard Fly: 1. L Duncan LAN 1:19.15, 2. K Plaisted LAN 1:23.90
100 Yard Freestyle: 1. A Koch LAN 56.60, 2. L Hamilton LAN 1:00.25, 3, E Anderson LAN 1:01.24, 4. A Nachazel LAN 1:05.36, 5. M Flint LAN 1:06.80, 6. S McMahon LAN 1:07.48, 7. J Bautz LAN 1:08.61, 8. J Rogers RIV 1:10.73, 9. P Loomis RIV 1:13.56, 10. M Hill LAN 1:18.47, 11. L Nowland RIV 1:22.31
500 Yard Freestyle: 1. J Wildcat RIV 6:24.56, 2. S Firth LAN 6:24.78, 3. J Baron LAN 7:17.68
200 Yard Freestyle Relay: 1. Lander A (S McMahon, M Flint, J Johnson, E Anderson) 1:56.87, 2. Riverton (A Tate, K Fisher, J Wildcat, M Osborne) 2:04.04, 3. Lander B (K McPherson, J Bautz, S Woodruff, S Firth) 2:11.42, 4. Lander C (T Bautz, D Forbis, M Hill, K Winn) 2:11.72
100 Yard Backstroke: 1. K McPherson LAN 1:09.36, 2. K Brinda LAN 1:12.65, 3. J Johnson LAN 1:16.06, 4. K Fisher RIV 1:16.11, 5. M Osborne RIV 1:16.72, 6. P Loomis RIV 1:22.31, 7. A Tate RIV 1:26.60
100 Yard Breaststroke: 1. J Bautz LAN 1:21.98, 2. T Bautz LAN 1:24.98, 3. D Forbis LAN 1:29.04, 4. S Houtman RIV 1:36.02, 5. L Munda RIV 1:36.64, 6. L Nowland RIV 1:43.59, 7. K Winn LAN 1:44.67, 8. E McKee RIV 1:48.78
400 Yard Freestyle Relay: 1. Lander A (A Koch, E Anderson, K Brinda, M Hill) 4:20.38, 2.Lander B (L Hamilton, L Duncan, A Nachazel, J Baron) 4:27.76, 3. Lander C (S McMahon, S Firth, J Johnson, K Plaisted) 4:44.25, 4. Riverton (P Loomis, B Mullins, A Tate, E McKee) 5:04.28
Jackson-Lander Scramble
October 10, 2020
Jackson Hole
Only Lander Results Shown
200 Yard Freestyle: 1. A Koch 2:08.75, 6. A Nachazel 2:24.13, 7. S Firth 2:25.09, 9. J Johnson 2:36.84, 12. J Baron 2:43.94
200 Yard IM: 5. T Bautz 3:01.69, 7. M Hill 3:29.73
50 Yard Freestyle: 1. L Hamilton 27.51, 3. E Anderson 28.28, 4. L Duncan 28.89, 8. K Brinda 30.05, 9. K McPherson 30.17, 10. M Flint 30.34, 11. S McMahon 30.82
100 Yard Butterfly: 4. K Plaisted 1:26.42, 5. S Firth 1:30.01
100 Yard Freestyle: 2. L Hamilton 1:01.38, 4. L Duncan 1:03.91, 5. A Nachazel 1:05.53, 6. J Johnson 1:06.70, 11. J Baron 1:15.40, 13. M Hill 1:20.47
500 Yard Freestyle: 1. K Brinda 6:22.48, 3. M Flint 6:39.24, 4. S McMahon 6:42.37
100 Yard Backstroke: 1. A Koch 1:06.38, 5. K Plaisted 1:22.73
100 Yard Breaststroke: 1. E Anderson 1:18.01, 3. D Forbis 1:28.90, 4. K McPherson 1:29.91
Diving: 2. S Woodruff 260.35, 4. D Forbis 176.65