Switching it up

Sonja Karp
NLJ Sports Reporter
 
The Lady Dogies headed to Worland for a quick quadrangular last Friday, and at this point in the season head coach Doug Scribner is still in the process of entering his swimmers in new events to get a handle on where they are at in each. 
“The freshmen need to get experience in the different races, and really that goes for everyone,” he explained. “We are also putting them into events to try to improve upon what they’ve done so far this season and we
are mixing things around in the relays to also see where everyone will fit
the best.”
Becca Henkle has competed well on the board so far this season, and last weekend was no exception. While she didn’t score her season best on Friday, the senior put up yet another 3A State qualifying score of 145.95, and did so performing more difficult dives than her first weekend out.
“Becca is still working on putting in new elements into her repertoire, and becoming more consistent on some of her other dives,” Scribner nodded. “She had a tougher week in practice last week, but despite that she dove pretty solid.”
Hannah Gross filled up one more slot on her state slate as she qualified in the 50 Free with a first-place finish and was right on her best time of 26.25, a 4A qualifying time. The senior also dove in for her second go at the 500 Free which she qualified for in the first meet of the season. 
The 500 is not on Gross’ radar as a potential event at the state meet, however she used the race strategically to prepare for the 200 Free which is a goal. With a lot of pretty tough competition in the conference this year in that event, Gross and Scribner are being very deliberate to get her where she needs to be. 
“We did something different with the 500 this time and decided to swim it in a way to emphasize the 200 Free,” Scribner explained. “We tried to take the first 100 out fast and then rest in the middle and then finish the last 100 fast. She knows how hard the 200 is going to be with the competition she has, but she thrives on that. I think she’s confident and she’s ready and if she can meet her goal it will put her in a pretty good spot for the rest of the season and for state.”
Raeleigh Shipp swam the 100 Butterfly for the first time this season, and compared to her time last season, she put up a personal best as she swam two to three seconds faster, finishing in 1:41.88.
Rebekah Olson swam in the open 100 Free and was on her best time, but then she swam it again in the 400 Freestyle relay and she dropped two seconds from her time in the open.
“I talked to Rebekah coming off that, asking her how she thought she did, and told her that she was going to swim it one more time,” Scribner grinned. “I asked her what she thought she could do to improve, because she wasn’t very tired coming off the open, and she attacked her leg in the 400 relay a little stronger and dropped some significant time.”
Another first for the team included Brooklyn Schmitz competing in the 100 Backstroke for the first time.
As the squad prepares this week for back-to-back home meets, Scribner is feeling confident that all are heading in the right direction for this point in the season.
Competition gets under way at the Kozisek Aquatic Center on Friday at 2, and then again on Saturday beginning at noon.