Dogies make a splash
The Newcastle High School swim team may be small, but they blasted off the blocks in Powell and Cody last weekend, and proved that they are a small force to be reckoned with.
Head coach Doug Scribner could not have been more pleased with how his team performed, given that four of the seven swimmers qualified in multiple events while the remaining three swimmers are within striking distance of punching their tickets to the state meet as well.
“I’m pretty excited for the rest of the season,” Scribner said. “It was an amazing start to the season!”
The Dogies’ performance on Friday also earned them a team score that moved them ahead of Worland, which Scribner noted was the first time that has happened in boys swimming during his tenure.
“We (disqualified) a relay and another event, and had we been able to score those we probably would have beat Powell, which has never happened either!” Scribner said.
Sophomore Gabe Hoover created waves as he qualified in 4A time in the 200 IM, 100 Freestyle and 50 Freestyle, and swam a 3A qualifying time in the 100 Butterfly. In all but the 50 Free, Hoover also swam a lifetime best time.
Senior Logan Olson swam a personal record and a 3A qualifying time in the 200 Free, and also qualified in 3A time in the 100 and 50 Free events.
Junior/Senior Harrison Gross swam three PRs, qualifying in the 200 IM, 100 Free and 50 Free, while senior Sam Scribner qualified in the 1 Meter Diving on both Friday and Saturday, improving his score on the second day for a PR. He also qualified in the 50 Free.
As a team, the Dogies also performed well in the 200 and 400 Freestyle Relays, which Scribner anticipated could do very well at the conference and state meets at the end of the season.
“The boys have put in such a good amount of work in the off season, either swimming or doing other activities, that at the beginning of the season the guys are swimming their lifetime bests right now,” Scribner said, smiling. “We are already just as fast as we were in our two-free relay. Last year, we were the fastest we’ve been in that relay and we are already just as fast. That bodes well for the season.”
Scribner anticipates that the squad can get into the 1:30s, which will be the fastest he has seen. In addition, there are four swimmers who are swimming under a minute in the 100 Free so the 400 Freestyle Relay looks to be promising as well.
Though the three other members of the squad didn’t get under qualifying time, PRs abounded for sophomores John Sandrini and Lucas Scribner during the two days of competition.
“I knew going into the season that we would be pretty strong, but to see them come out in this first weekend and be so competitive is just so awesome,” Scribner said.
This week, the Dogies will head to Cheyenne on Friday for a dual/triangular against South and potentially East, then will go on to Casper for an invitational at Kelly Walsh on Saturday.
