Lady Tigers Undefeated

NHS swimmers shine in final tune-up

Class 6A swimming — Tigers sweep Tigard and continue to drop time as district meet looms  

   By: Seth Gordon
After a few weeks of trying out new races and mixing relays, it was back to business for Newberg on Thursday as the Tigers tuned up for next weekend’s district championships with a convincing sweep of Tigard at the Chehalem Aquatic Center.
   The boys won 10 of 11 events, including six 1-2-3 finishes and two more 1-2 finishes, in a 125-36 win.
   The girls were also dominant in winning nine races with two 1-2-3 sweeps and two other 1-2 finishes en route to a 117-53 victory.
   “I was able to get some people in some swims to see what they can do for district championships and even looking past district championships,” head coach Rich Tobergte said.
In addition to picking up individual wins, Alysha Bush, Cassie Beecher, Meghan O’Halloran and Catherine Mays pleased Tobergte with a time of 1:42.68 in the 200 free relay.
   “It’s as fast as they’ve swam this season,” Tobergte said. “The group’s personal-best time is a 1:40, but that was last March when they were rested for a club meet. The (high school) team record is 1:41.7 and once they’re rested for state championships, that’s gone.”
   Bush, Beecher and Mays joined Anna Dolyniuk on the winning 200 medley relay team (1:57.69), while O’Halloran and Dolyniuk teamed with Mekala Gassner and Elizebeth Kaufman to win the 400 free relay in 4:02.04.
   Bush picked up a pair of individual wins in the 50 (25.36) and 100 free (55.35), while Beecher won the 100 back (1:05.30) and took second in the 200 free (2:08.24).
   O’Halloran was second to Beecher in the 100 back (1:05.90), but returned the favor by winning the 200 free in a time of 2:04.11, which Tobergte said is about a second off the pace she needs to qualify for the state meet in that event.
   Mays also picked up a pair of wins in the 100 fly (1:06.91) and the 100 breaststroke (1:12.22).
   Tobergte also praised Kylie Dunn and Ellie Schmidt for dropping four seconds apiece, the former in her split of the 400 free (1:06) relay and the latter in the 100 fly (1:20.23).
   “The supporting cast did really well,” Tobergte said. “We need the supporting cast to step up next week and help the team win that title.”
   The girls also wrapped up the first undefeated league season in Tobergte’s tenure and appear ready for the district meet at McMinnville next weekend.
   “That’s fun,” Tobergte said of the regular season feat. “The girls are excited. Hopefully, we can go down to districts and keep that streak going.”