The fall competition season has started for the powerful Wood River High School swimming team coached by Brian Gallagher. Six letter winners return for the four-time defending state champion Wood River girls' swim team.
Wood River's boys and girls dominated last Wednesday's season opener at Rupert. The girls won 10 of 11 events including three relays and prevailed by a 153-39 score over runner-up Twin Falls. The boys took first place by a 50-point margin over runner-up Minico.
First-place individual finishers at Rupert were Jon Atkinson, Taylor Coiner, Michael Coiner, JT Sutton, Lena Friesen, Taylor Bates, Gene Fairbrother and Matt Lichtenberg.
In Saturday's eight-team home meet at the Wood River Community YMCA, the girls won 168-98 over Century of Pocatello. The boys amassed 148 points to take their meet. Overall, Wood River swimmers won 15 of 22 events in Ketchum.
Setting WRHS school records Saturday were the boys' 200 IM relay team of co-captain Atkinson, Fairbrother, Lichtenberg and Sutton, and co-captain Fairbrother in 50 fly.
Seven lettermen return for the WRHS boys. The squad has set a goal to win the regional championship in Twin Falls on Halloween and place in the top 10 at state in Boise. Other boys are Broadie Burrell, Bryce Ervin and Adam Potts.
Leading the dedicated girls' team are three seniors—co-captains Michael Coiner and Taylor Coiner plus Melissa Becker, along with three sophomores, Tori Emerick, Elizabeth Fry and Ellie Shay. The freshmen are Taylor Bates, Audrey Brassil, Lena Friesen, Lauren Lichtenberg, Chrystal Tullis and Colby Werley.
The rest of the season schedule is: Saturday, Sept. 19, at the Twin Falls Invitational 6 p.m.; Sept. 26, at the Pocatello Invitational (ISU) at 9:30 a.m.; Oct. 3, home vs. Pocatello and Twin Falls at 1 p.m.; Oct. 17, at the Twin Falls Invitational at 4 p.m.; Oct. 21, at Twin Falls 5:30 p.m.; Oct. 31, regionals in Twin Falls at 1 p.m.; and Nov. 6-7, state meet at Boise YMCA.
Here are individual placings from Saturday's home meet:
Boys: Jon Atkinson 1—50 free and 1—100 back. Broadie Burrell 2—500 free and 7—50 free. Bryce Ervin 3—100 breast and 4—100 free. Gene Fairbrother 1—100 fly and 2—100 back. Matt Lichtenberg 2—100 breast and 9—100 free. Adam Potts 4—50 free and 5—100 free. JT Sutton 1—100 free and 2—50 free.
Girls: Taylor Bates 2—50 free and 2—500 free. Melissa Becker 7—200 free. Audrey Brassil 10—100 breast and 12—100 free. Michael Coiner 1—200 free and 1—100 back. Taylor Coiner 1—200 IM. Tori Emerick 3—100 back and 4—200 free. Lena Friesen 1—100 fly and 1—100 breast. Elizabeth Fry 2—200 IM and 2—100 back. Lauren Lichtenberg 7—100 breast and 8—100 free. Ellie Shay 5—100 breast and 7—50 free. Chrystal Tullis 6—100 free and 6—100 breast. Colby Werley 2—100 free and 3—200 free.
