The Grand County High School girls and boys swimming teams competed at the Cedar City Invitational on Friday and Saturday, Jan. 11 and 12, where the boys placed fifth and the girls 13th out of 14 teams.
The Grand County High School (GCHS) Red Devils boasted the best score out of the seven 3A boys teams competing.
Meanwhile, the GCHS Red Devil wrestlers competed at a round robin tournament in Gunnison, where senior Jarom Shumway placed fourth in his weight class, while seniors Trent Elmore and Levi Merz each took fifth and sophomore Jaymmin Hester took sixth. Elmore tore his meniscus in his final match, making him the third GCHS grappler this season to suffer a season-ending injury.
For the swimming team, senior Braxten Pierce won the 200-yard freestyle at 1:53.88, and also placed second in the 500-yard freestyle at 5:24.53. Teammate Corbin Arbon placed sixth in the 50-yard freestyle at 24.27, and the 100-yard freestyle at 55.75.
Senior Connor Ainge swam the 100-yard freestyle and 200-yard freestyle, placing ninth in the 100 (57.12) and 13th in the 200 (2:13.84). Also placing near the front of the pack for GCHS were sophomore Pat Pakkarato in seventh in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:10.10) and 11th in the 200-yard individual medley (2:19.86), and Alex Lacy, who placed 12th in the 100-yard butterfly (1:06.31). The combination of Pierce, Arbon, Ainge and Pakkarato placed fourth in the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:38.50) and sixth in the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:40.47).
The Red Devil swimmers were scheduled to swim in a dual at Gunnison on Tuesday, Jan. 15, before heading to Price this weekend for the Carbon Invitational on Saturday, Jan. 19, beginning at 10 a.m. The wrestling team next competes in Blanding versus San Juan and North Sanpete on Thursday, Jan. 17, at 7 p.m.
Wrestlers take to the mats in Gunnison