Their motivation all season was winning one more state championship.
"One for the thumb," was their team slogan, after four consecutive state championships for the Wood River High School girls' swimming squad.
They got the fifth Saturday during the Idaho High School Swimming Championships that attracted 426 swimmers from 44 high school swimming programs to the Boise YMCA.
Wood River's girls reached the finals of all three relay events, winning one (200 free) and placing second in another (400 free). They got an individual gold medal from freshman Lena Friesen in the 200 IM.
The 200 free relay winners over Moscow were seniors Michael Coiner and Taylor Coiner along with sophomore Elizabeth Fry and freshman Lena Friesen. Wood River has now won this girls' relay at state for seven of the last eight years.
Wood River piled enough points to out-distance runner-up Boise High School 235-194 and win the 28-school team championship—so they could proudly hold up five fingers to signify their accomplishment.
Coach Brian Gallagher said his girls came up with personal-best times throughout the two-day competition. Friday's preliminaries directed the top eight individual event finishers and relay teams to Saturday's finals, with the 9th-16th placers going into consolation finals.
Wood River's boys, with only five swimmers, rang up a best-ever sixth place overall team finish.
Placing third in school-record time was the 200 free relay with JT Sutton, Gene Fairbrother, Bryce Ervin and Jon Atkinson. The same foursome set a school mark in placing seventh in 400 free relay.
Team records in Boise were Jon Atkinson's 50 free and 100 free times, Gene Fairbrother's 100 fly, and Lena Friesen's 100 breast, 100 fly and 200 IM.
Wood River swimmers were grateful of the support of parents, friends and family members in Boise, as well as the surprise appearance of last year's co-captain Megan Hayes, down from University of Idaho.
Here are top team rankings and Wood River individual placings from last weekend's state competition in Boise:
Girls' teams: 1—WRHS 235. 2—Boise High School 194. 3—Moscow High School Swim Club 193. 4—Liberty Charter 173 (28 schools).
Individual girls: Lena Friesen 1—200 IM and 4—100 breast. Michael Coiner (senior) 4—200 free and 4—100 back. Taylor Coiner (senior) 5—500 free and 6—200 IM. Elizabeth Fry 7—500 free.
Tayler Bates (freshman) 11—100 fly and 11—200 IM, a consolation finalist. Colby Werley (freshman) 11—200 free and 12—100 breast, a consolation finalist.
Lauren Lichtenberg (sophomore) 34—100 breast. Ellie Shay (sophomore) 29—100 breast. Chrystal Tullis (freshman) 27—50 free and 35—100 free. Melissa Becker (senior) 28—200 free and 19—500 free. Tori Emerick (sophomore) 13—100 back and 20—100 free.
Girls' relays: 1—200 free with Michael Coiner, Taylor Coiner, Elizabeth Fry and Lena Friesen. 2—400 free with Michael Coiner, Taylor Coiner, Elizabeth Fry and Lena Friesen. 7—200 IM with Tori Emerick, Colby Werley, Tayler Bates and Chrystal Tullis.
Boys' teams: 1—Moscow High School Swim Club 332.5. 2—Lake City 195. 3—Skyline of Idaho Falls 194. 4—Boise High School 170. 5—Bishop Kelly Swim Team 133. 6—WRHS 118.5 (28 schools).
Individual boys: Jon Atkinson (senior) 5—50 free and 7—100 free, made the finals. Adam Potts (sophomore) 9—500 free and 13—200 free, personal bests. Gene Fairbrother (senior) 10—100 fly and 11—200 free, personal bests. JT Sutton 9—100 free and 13—50 free. Bryce Ervin (junior) 41—100 free and 44—100 breast.
Boys' relays: 3—200 free with JT Sutton, Gene Fairbrother, Bryce Ervin and Jon Atkinson. 7—400 free with JT Sutton, Gene Fairbrother, Bryce Ervin and Jon Atkinson.
Holding Wood River’s state championship trophy are 200 free relay winners, from left, Lena Friesen, Taylor Coiner, Elizabeth Fry and Michael Coiner. Courtesy photo.
