Chalk up another title.
The Wood River High School girls' swim team earned its fifth straight Southeast Idaho Regional championship title Saturday, Nov. 1 in Idaho Falls.
Meanwhile the Wood River boys just missed their first ever regional title win by 4.5 points, coming home to Hailey proud with a second-place trophy.
The girls amassed 408 points over second-place Idaho Falls 308, Hillcrest of Idaho Falls 299, Century of Pocatello 225 and Bonneville of Idaho Falls 210.
Wood River's boys, with twice as many swimmers this season over last, racked up an amazing 333 points for second place behind Hillcrest's 337.5. Skyline of Idaho Falls followed in third with 252,
Coach Brian Gallagher said about the WRHS regional champs, "It's a good group of girls working hard to continue this kind of success. They are poised to defend a fourth straight state title."
He was pleased with the time improvements for both boys' and girls squads as they bear down on the state championships this weekend, Nov. 7-8, at the West Boise YMCA.
The girls snagged 120 points alone winning all three relays in the Idaho Falls regionals.
In the 200 medley, the winning squad featured Megan Hayes, Elizabeth Fry, Racheal McGinnis, and Michael Coiner.
Wood River's 200 free relay winners were Elizabeth Fry, Taylor Coiner, Esther Williams and Hayes, and the 400 free relay team consisted of Taylor Coiner, Michael Coiner, Williams and McGinnis.
The winning boys 400 free relay team consisted of Max Jones, JT Sutton, Gene Fairbrother and Jon Atkinson, for 40 points. Jones, JT Sutton, Sean Sutton and Atkinson combined for second place in the 200 free relay.
Sean Sutton, Matt Lichtenberg, Fairbrother and Henry Rickbeil swam for fourth place in the 200 Medley.
Wood River's swimmers also did well individually.
Racheal McGinnis led the girls with golds in the 50 and 100 free. For the boys, Gene Fairbrother was first in the 100 Fly. Jon Atkinson broke two five-year-old Wood River High records with a second place in 50 free (23.41), and a third place finish in the 100 free (51.70).
Other WRHS individual regional places were as follows:
2nds—Taylor Coiner (200 and 500 free); Megan Hayes (100 back); and Max Jones (100 back).
3rds—Michael Coiner (100 free); Hayes (100 fly); and Jones (200 free).
4ths—M. Coiner (100 back); Fairbrother (100 back); Elizabeth Fry (200 IM/100 breast); JT Sutton (500 free); Sean Sutton (100 breast); and Esther Williams (500 free).
5ths—Adam Potts (500 free); and Sean Sutton (200 IM).
6ths—Tori Emerick (100 free); Matt Lichtenberg (100 breast); and JT Sutton (200 free).
7ths—Melissa Becker (500 free); and Zoey Olbum (100 breast).
8ths—Broadie Burrell (100 back); Becker (200 free); Emerick (100 back); Ellie Shay (100 breast); and Williams (200 IM).
9ths—Reta Flynt (100 breast); Potts (200 free); and Henry Rickbeil (100 free).
11ths—Flynt (50 free).
12ths—Burrell (500 free); Bryce Ervin (200 free); Sophie Nosworthy (100 free); and Rickbeil (50 free).
14ths—Olbum (200 free).
16ths—Nosworthy (50 free).
17ths—Shay (50 free).
21sts—Lichtenberg (100 free).
22nds—Ervin (100 free).
Wood River High School swimmers celebrate an outstanding day of competition Saturday during regionals in Idaho Falls. Next up: State competition in Boise Friday Photo by
