Sports

CHS Boys Swim to Fourth at State Meet

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By Coach Osborne
    Going into the state meet, the Central boys knew they had a good chance of finishing in the top five if each swimmer sustained their time from the regular season.  In a tremendous team effort, each boy swam their personal best in the two day meet to earn 180 points and 4th place in Division II.
    The boys started the meet making a strong statement by finishing 3rd in the 200 medley relay.  The relay consisted of Matthew Usher, Daniel Parker, Matthew Arnold, and Kade McAdams.  The 200 freestyle relay swam its best time of the year by 3 seconds and finished 5th.  That relay consisted of Arnold, Sean Murphy, Parker, and McAdams.  The 400 freestyle relay closed the meet with a tremendous performance.  Usher, Brennon Young, Cameron Polk, and Murphy had a goal of swimming under 4 minutes that they achieved by finishing in 3:56.69 which earned 7th place.
    Individually, the Wildcats were led by junior Matthew Arnold who finished 2nd in the 200 individual medley and 4th in the 100 backstroke.  Senior Kade McAdams finished 6th in the 50 freestyle and 7th in the 100 freestyle.  Senior Daniel Parker finished 4th in the 100 breaststroke and 9th in the 50 freestyle.  Senior Sean Murphy finished 12th in the 200 freestyle and 14th in the 100 freestyle.   Freshman Matthew Usher finished 10th in the 100 backstroke.  
    There were many contributing factors to the boys excellent performance.  Coach Mary Hodges did an outstanding job of concentrating practices on technical improvements that helped cut time.  Also, the girls team did a great job of supporting the boys and working hard themselves to improve at the end of the year.  Despite a rash of injury and illness at the end of the year, the girls represented Central well at the state meet.  Emerald Roney, Acacia Porch, Claire Holmes, and Emily Hollier swam a season best in the 400 freestyle relay.  Other girl swimmers were Anna Johansson, Chelsea Hambrick, Lyndee Debetaz, and Destiny Bankston.
    The swim team will close their year with a banquet on December 5th.  The banquet will honor the entire team, but pay special attention to the 3 boy seniors and 3 girl seniors that will be graduating.  In order to continue the success from this year, the swim team is hoping to grow in numbers.  Anyone interested in receiving information about being a member of the swim team can do so by contacting Coach Osborne at [email protected].