GCHS swimmers compete at Cedar Invitational

The Grand County High School swimming team had its second meet of the season on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 8 and 9. Competing at the Cedar City Invitational along with schools from 2A through 6A classifications, the Red Devils collected 14 personal best times.

“We love swimming in Cedar,” GCHS swimming coach Brian Pierce said. “The kids get an opportunity to swim against some of the bigger schools early on in the season.”

Among some of the personal records were Zoe Warren’s time of 1:19.08, Kiersten Kimmerle’s 1:23.20, Neelie Relph’s 1:29.33 and Mallory Maughan’s 1:34.80 all in the 100-yard backstroke; and Zoe Campbell’s 1:35.97 in the 100-yard breaststroke.

Pierce said that the team is always to record better times than before, which the swimmers are steadily doing early on in the season.

Boys who recorded personal best times include Brendan Moore, who dropped almost 13 seconds from his 200-yard freestyle to swim a 2:24.82, while also placing sixth in the 100-yard breaststroke at 1:15.91. Ricky Shumway also recorded a personal best in the breaststroke race at 1:31.04.

In addition to those personal bests, Pat Pakkarato had a strong meet, placing fourth in the 100-yard breaststroke at 1:14.57 and seventh in the 200-yard individual medley at 2:24.75.

Pierce said the Red Devils’ relay teams also performed well, as the girls 200-yard freestyle team of Warren, Kimmerle, Relph and Cora Baird placed 11th, third among teams in its division, at 2:05.60.

The boys 200-yard freestyle relay of Pakkarato, Shumway, Moore and Stryder Young swam seventh overall, second among teams in its classification, at 1:50.64. In the 400-yard freestyle relay Young, Moore, Pakkarato and Camron Stotz placed ninth, dropping almost 20 seconds off their previous best time to swim a 4:06.28.

“We have a young team this year, but they are very motivated to work hard,” Pierce said. “We will continue focusing on the little things like conditioning and technique as we prepare to swim against Richfield, Gunnison and Hurricane this weekend.”

The Red Devils will play the Richfield Wildcats, Gunnison Bulldogs and Hurricane Tigers at a home meet at the Moab Recreation and Aquatics Center (374 N. Park Ave.) on Friday, Nov. 15, at 3:30 p.m.

‘Young’ Red Devils collect 14 personal bests

“We have a young team this year, but they are very motivated to work hard.”

– Brian Pierce, GCHS swim coach

When: Friday, Nov. 15, at 3:30 p.m.

Where: Moab Recreation and Aquatics Center, 374 N. Park Ave.

Author: Tim Chappell

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