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Vikings swimmers take first in boys over Reno

Chad Sellmer, Tribune staff writer

South Tahoe High’s boys swimmers enjoyed a huge team win over larger Reno in Northern Nevada 4A league competition Saturday at the city South Lake Tahoe Parks & Recreation pool by a score of 145-126.

Several Vikings swimmers also set school records or regional qualifying times for both boys and girls.

The four-team meet was similar to a dual format, with South Tahoe versus Reno and North Valleys taking on Spanish Springs.



STHS head coach Dale Bogard was ecstatic with the boys’ team win over Reno.

“It was really great. It was a team effort,” Bogard said. “I have to really spread out so that everybody (on the team) is in. They score four places per event, so I try to put as many kids in each event as I can. They all came through like troopers. Just about everybody bettered their time. It was just really amazing.”



Vikings swimmer Zack Powers broke two individual school records with a first place in the 200 freestyle (1 minute, 56.17 seconds) and the 100 backstroke (1:02.34). He also helped the 400 free relay team to a school record with a time of 3:46.25.

The 400 free relay team includes Powers, Andres Contreras, Devin Blann and Timmy Powers. The team’s previous best was 3:54.93, which was also a school record.

“They broke that by eight seconds, which is just unbelievable,” Bogard said.

Timmy Powers also had two first-place finishes in the 100 butterfly (1:03.15) and the 100 breaststroke (1:11.90).

For the boys, Zack Powers, Andrew Contreras, Travis Travis, Jordan Sharpe, Jason Schmedes, Timmy Powers, Ansel Robinson, Blann and Erik Gallanty all set regionals qualifying times.

On the girls’ side, the Reno team proved too strong, winning by an overall score of 196-90.

“It was a pretty full deck, but it was great, though, really high level,” she said. “They are really strong and they had some top girls.”

For the Vikings, Natalie Turner placed first in the 100 breaststroke with a regionals qualifying time of 1:16.81, followed in second by teammate Melissa Anstett at 1:16.96, also a RQT. The 400 free relay team of Melissa Anstett, Caitlin Robinson, Bailey Flood and Natalie Turner also placed first with a time of 4:10.53. Best, Jorie Turner, Robinson and Flood all set regionals qualifying times.

Bogard said hosting a meet at the recreation center is a good opportunity to see the hard work of the team’s volunteer parents, who set up a hospitality/snack bar at each home meet as a fund-raiser.

“Our parents really put on a great meet,” she said. “We are the best team with our parents’ help. Other teams don’t go to this trouble.”

The Vikings’ next meet is Saturday versus McQueen at the University of Nevada-Reno beginning at 2 p.m.


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