The Grand County High School swimming team placed third in both the boys and girls divisions at the Region 15 Swimming Championships on Thursday, Jan. 25, in Castle Dale, led by a pair of individual wins apiece from Braxten Pierce and Mary Kimmerle.
Pierce placed first in both the 200-yard freestyle (1:51.12) and 500-yard freestyle (5:17.80) events. Kimmerle also won the 500, shaving more than seven seconds off her personal best at 5:49.31. In addition, she won the 200-yard individual medley at 2:24.90. Grand got one more individual win from Alex Lacy in the 100-yard butterfly at 1:04.98.
In the boys division, Emery won the region title with 326 points, followed by Richfield with 236 and Grand with 227. The host Spartans also won the girls division with 390 points, followed by 322 from Richfield and 139 from Grand.
The boys got a pair of third-place finishes from Corbin Arbon: the 50-yard freestyle at 25.45 and the 100-yard backstroke at 1:06.07. Lacy was right behind him in the backstroke, placing fourth at 1:07.60. Tyler Moreau finished seventh in the event at 1:09.46.
In the 200-yard individual medley, Dallin Stucki placed seventh at 2:33.37, followed by Moreau in 10th at 2:36.40. Stucki also posted a fourth-place effort in the 100-yard butterfly at 1:09.81.
The boys didn’t enjoy quite the results they’re used to in the relay events, placing second in the 400-yard freestyle relay at 3:50.17, third in the 200-yard medley at 2:00.60 and fourth in the 200-yard freestyle relay at 1:56.17.
For the girls, Kimmerle was joined with strong finishes by Kiersten Kimmerle, who placed fifth in the 100-yard breaststroke at 1:29.77; and seventh in the 200-yard freestyle at 2:40.86. Josie Wakefield also had a pair of strong finishes, taking sixth in the 100-yard backstroke at 1:18.88 and eighth in the 200-yard freestyle at 2:47.47. Brooklin Hugentobler had a pair of eighth-place finishes in the 50-yard freestyle (30.43) and the 100-yard freestyle (1:12.85).
The girls finished third in both the 200-yard and 400-yard freestyle relays and did not compete in the 200-yard medley relay.
The swimming season culminates in the UHSAA Utah State 3A Swimming Championships on Thursday, Feb. 8, at Wasatch High School in Heber City.
Braxten Pierce, Mary Kimmerle, each win two individual events
“Pierce placed first in both the 200-yard freestyle (1:51.12) and 500-yard freestyle (5:17.80) events. Kimmerle also won the 500, shaving more than seven seconds off her personal best at 5:49.31.”
