Swim qualifies for 4 individual races, boys relay at state

At+district+on+Jan.+28+at+UT%2C+senior+Karsten+Olsen+and+the+swim+teams+compete+for+a+regionals+appearance.++Olsen+went+on+to+finish+fourth+at+regionals+in+the+backstroke.

Sofia Valladares

At district on Jan. 28 at UT, senior Karsten Olsen and the swim teams compete for a regionals appearance. Olsen went on to finish fourth at regionals in the backstroke.

The varsity swim teams traveled to Rockwall for their regional meet Monday and Tuesday, ultimately qualifying five swimmers for state in four different individual races and one relay team.

Individually, junior Josh Bedford won the 500-meter freestyle and placed second in the 200 freestyle, qualifying for both races at state. Freshman Aaron Gordon placed second in the 100 back stroke, advancing him to state, and fourth in the 100 butterfly.

Junior Aidan Spaulding finished fifth in the 200 individual medley and the 500 freestyle. Sophomore Danny Bishop placed fourth in the 200 and 500 free style. Senior Karsten Olsen finished fourth in the 100 back stroke and eighth in the 100 butterfly. Sophomore Connor Cox placed 12th place in the 500 free. Junior Leo Pozhenko finished in 11th place  in the 100 free. Sophomore Cayden Maguire finished 12th in the 50 free and 13th in the 100 free.

On the girls side, junior Abby Naden finished second in the 100 free style, qualifying for state, and fifth in the 200 free. Senior Natalie Denison placed 11th in the 100 fly. Freshman Hannah Seal finished fourth in the 500 free and 14th in the 200 free. Senior Tammy Nguyen finished 13th in the 100 fly and 16th in the 100 back.

Sophomore Sydney Borick placed 14th in the 50 free and 11th in the 100 free. Senior Avery Wong finished 14th in the 200 individual medley.

In the relays, the boys 400 free relay team of Gordon, Bedford, Bishop, and Spaulding finished second and qualified for the state meet. The 200 free relay placed 4th, including Maguire, Bedford, Bishop, and Spaulding. The 200 medley relay of Olsen, Pozhenko, Gordon and Maguire finished fourth.

The girls 200 free relay Nguyen, Borick, senior Lara Labardini, and Naden finished sixth and the 400 relay team of  Nguyen, Borick, Seal,  and Naden finished seventh place overall. The 200 medley relay of Wong, senior Sydney Clements, Denison, and Labardini finished 11th place and the boys 200 Medley Relay on their fourth place finish.