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North Bend girls aim for repeat title
By John Gunther, Sports Editor
Tuesday, February 05, 2008 | No comments posted.
Last year, North Bend’s girls swim team rode a powerful lineup to the district title.
This year, the Bulldogs are in the mix, but could be in a tight battle with Cottage Grove and Henley for the championship in Class 4A-3A-2A-1A District 4, which holds its championships Friday and Saturday at Southern Oregon University in Ashland.
“It’s going to be a barn-burner,” said North Bend coach Chris Richmond. “I think it’s going to come down to the last race. You’ve got to love that.”
Last year, North Bend’s Denise Green and Rachel Heaney won two state titles each and helped two relays to state crowns.
Green has graduated to the NCAA ranks at Boise State, but Heaney is back for her sophomore season and is the top seed in both distance races — the 200-yard freestyle and 500-yard freestyle.
She also will play a key role in two relays with teammates Sarah Brown, Gwen Rogers and Kelli Kronsberg, though Richmond hasn’t decided just which relays he wants to load up on.
“I’m pretty torn,” Richmond said. “We have to win two relays and score at least third in the other (to win the meet).”
North Bend likely will use its best lineup in the meet-ending 400 freestyle relay and also has the top time with the same group in the opening 200 medley relay. But Richmond might instead use those swimmers in the 200 freestyle relay, where the Bulldogs are seeded second behind Cottage Grove and just in front of Henley.
Whatever lineups Richmond uses for the relays, the same girls will figure prominently, along with a few teammates, in the individual races.
Brown, a senior, has the top entry time in the 100 butterfly and is seeded fourth in the 200 freestyle.
“I think her best swims are going to happen this week,” Richmond said. “This is her last chance. She knows what’s on the line.”
The distance races will be key to North Bend’s hopes.
In addition to Heaney and Brown, Kronsberg is seeded fifth and Karen Fowler seventh in the 200 freestyle. In the 500 freestyle, Kronsberg is seeded third, Emily Hepworth fourth and Amy Walker fifth.
“I had to take care of my strengths,” Richmond said about loading up in the longer races. “We do a lot more of that kind of training than other teams do. That’s what we’ve got to go with.”
That means the Bulldogs will sacrifice some in the sprints, though Rogers is seeded fourth in the 100 freestyle. Hepworth and Rogers are seeded fourth and sixth, respectively, in the 100 backstroke, while Walker and Crocker are seeded sixth and seventh in the 100 breaststroke.
The top six finishers in Friday’s preliminary heats advance to the finals heat Saturday, while the next six are in the consolation heat. An additional six swimmers will swim Saturday in the bonus heat, though they won’t figure in the team scoring.
While the girls race is up for grabs, Cottage Grove is a big favorite to repeat as boys champion.
“I think we’ll be fighting for second,” Richmond said. “I don’t think there’s anybody who is going to touch Cottage Grove.”
North Bend’s top swimmers are sophomore Matt Johnson, seeded first in both the 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke; and freshman James Verger, seeded first in the 500 freestyle and fourth in the 200 freestyle.
But it’s a group of seniors that will determine where the Bulldogs place in the team race — Daniel Canaga, Eprhaim Morris, Spenser Lynass, Steven Garboden and Michael Brainard.
“It’s their time,” Richmond said. “They’ve got to step up.”
Morris is seeded second in the 200 individual medley and fourth in the 100 breaststroke. Canaga enters with the third seed in the 100 butterfly and is seeded second in the 100 freestyle. Lynass is seeded fourth in the IM and seventh in the 100 freestyle. Garboden is the fifth seed in the 100 breaststroke. Brainard is seeded sixth in the 500 freestyle and seventh in the 100 butterfly.
Those swimmers will figure into the relays with Johnson and Swafford, and Richmond hopes North Bend can give Cottage Grove a run in at least one of those events.
In addition to the team race, North Bend hopes to qualify several swimmers for next week’s state meet.
The winner of each race in the four special districts that make up Class 4A-3A-2A-1A will advance to state, along with the fastest eight performers who aren’t district champions.
The rest of the teams for the district meet are Reedsport, Phoenix, Hidden Valley, Illinois Valley and North Valley.
Reedsport, in its first year back after two years without a program, could have a few swimmers reach the finals this week.
Riley Johnson is seeded eighth in the 50 freestyle and Alan Roy is the sixth seed in the 100 freestyle. The top girl for the Braves likely will be Brittany Jones, seeded ninth in the 100 freestyle.
The action starts at 2:30 p.m. both Friday and Saturday.
The top seed in each event, as well as North Bend and Reedsport entries, is listed in today’s Scoreboard.
This year, the Bulldogs are in the mix, but could be in a tight battle with Cottage Grove and Henley for the championship in Class 4A-3A-2A-1A District 4, which holds its championships Friday and Saturday at Southern Oregon University in Ashland.
“It’s going to be a barn-burner,” said North Bend coach Chris Richmond. “I think it’s going to come down to the last race. You’ve got to love that.”
Last year, North Bend’s Denise Green and Rachel Heaney won two state titles each and helped two relays to state crowns.
Green has graduated to the NCAA ranks at Boise State, but Heaney is back for her sophomore season and is the top seed in both distance races — the 200-yard freestyle and 500-yard freestyle.
She also will play a key role in two relays with teammates Sarah Brown, Gwen Rogers and Kelli Kronsberg, though Richmond hasn’t decided just which relays he wants to load up on.
“I’m pretty torn,” Richmond said. “We have to win two relays and score at least third in the other (to win the meet).”
North Bend likely will use its best lineup in the meet-ending 400 freestyle relay and also has the top time with the same group in the opening 200 medley relay. But Richmond might instead use those swimmers in the 200 freestyle relay, where the Bulldogs are seeded second behind Cottage Grove and just in front of Henley.
Whatever lineups Richmond uses for the relays, the same girls will figure prominently, along with a few teammates, in the individual races.
Brown, a senior, has the top entry time in the 100 butterfly and is seeded fourth in the 200 freestyle.
“I think her best swims are going to happen this week,” Richmond said. “This is her last chance. She knows what’s on the line.”
The distance races will be key to North Bend’s hopes.
In addition to Heaney and Brown, Kronsberg is seeded fifth and Karen Fowler seventh in the 200 freestyle. In the 500 freestyle, Kronsberg is seeded third, Emily Hepworth fourth and Amy Walker fifth.
“I had to take care of my strengths,” Richmond said about loading up in the longer races. “We do a lot more of that kind of training than other teams do. That’s what we’ve got to go with.”
That means the Bulldogs will sacrifice some in the sprints, though Rogers is seeded fourth in the 100 freestyle. Hepworth and Rogers are seeded fourth and sixth, respectively, in the 100 backstroke, while Walker and Crocker are seeded sixth and seventh in the 100 breaststroke.
The top six finishers in Friday’s preliminary heats advance to the finals heat Saturday, while the next six are in the consolation heat. An additional six swimmers will swim Saturday in the bonus heat, though they won’t figure in the team scoring.
While the girls race is up for grabs, Cottage Grove is a big favorite to repeat as boys champion.
“I think we’ll be fighting for second,” Richmond said. “I don’t think there’s anybody who is going to touch Cottage Grove.”
North Bend’s top swimmers are sophomore Matt Johnson, seeded first in both the 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke; and freshman James Verger, seeded first in the 500 freestyle and fourth in the 200 freestyle.
But it’s a group of seniors that will determine where the Bulldogs place in the team race — Daniel Canaga, Eprhaim Morris, Spenser Lynass, Steven Garboden and Michael Brainard.
“It’s their time,” Richmond said. “They’ve got to step up.”
Morris is seeded second in the 200 individual medley and fourth in the 100 breaststroke. Canaga enters with the third seed in the 100 butterfly and is seeded second in the 100 freestyle. Lynass is seeded fourth in the IM and seventh in the 100 freestyle. Garboden is the fifth seed in the 100 breaststroke. Brainard is seeded sixth in the 500 freestyle and seventh in the 100 butterfly.
Those swimmers will figure into the relays with Johnson and Swafford, and Richmond hopes North Bend can give Cottage Grove a run in at least one of those events.
In addition to the team race, North Bend hopes to qualify several swimmers for next week’s state meet.
The winner of each race in the four special districts that make up Class 4A-3A-2A-1A will advance to state, along with the fastest eight performers who aren’t district champions.
The rest of the teams for the district meet are Reedsport, Phoenix, Hidden Valley, Illinois Valley and North Valley.
Reedsport, in its first year back after two years without a program, could have a few swimmers reach the finals this week.
Riley Johnson is seeded eighth in the 50 freestyle and Alan Roy is the sixth seed in the 100 freestyle. The top girl for the Braves likely will be Brittany Jones, seeded ninth in the 100 freestyle.
The action starts at 2:30 p.m. both Friday and Saturday.
The top seed in each event, as well as North Bend and Reedsport entries, is listed in today’s Scoreboard.
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