Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
Serving the Big Horn Basin for over 100 years
WORLAND - After making it four straight 3A East conference championships two weeks ago, the Worland High School girls swim team begin their bid for some state hardware today in Gillette at the 3A State Girls Swim Meet.
In an interview Wednesday, Coach Mike Blissett said, "This is the first year we've had the two weeks [off before state]." In previous years the conference meet has been right before the state meet but he said he and the team looked forward to the extra week for practicing working on technique.
"I think it's going to payoff," he said.
As a team, he said the consensus among coaches is that Lander probably will walk away with the title, leaving it open for the next four spots. He said four teams should be vying for those other top four spots - Worland, Powell, Buffalo and Sublette County.
"We're hoping to sneak second away from those teams and we'll see how we do," Blissett said.
To accomplish that goal, Blissett said the focus in on today. He said the first day, even though no team points are awarded, is important because it determined how many points can be scored the following day.
Individually, Blissett said there are several Lady Warriors who have been at the top of the pack in their events - Ellyse Russell, Juli Warren, Macy Trombley and Kristen Collingwood. He noted those four are the ones who swam the record-setting relays at conference.
Worland boasted a number of conference champions who will be looking to shine today and Friday. They include:
-200-yard medley relay of Ellyse Russell, Kristen Collingwood, Juli Warren and Macy Trombley.
-Warren in the 200-yard individual medley
-Russell in the 50-yard freestyle
-Collingwood in the 100-yard butterfly
-Russell in the 100-yard freestyle; Trombley was second.
-200-yard freestyle relay with Trombley, Warren, Collingwood and Russell
-Warren in the 100-yard breaststroke with Kylie Warren third
Events today begin at 2 p.m. with preliminary rounds and semifinal rounds of diving. Preliminaries for the swimming events begin 30 minutes after diving concludes.
Friday finals begin at 10 a.m.
Order of events and state qualifiers from Worland are as follows:
200 medley relay - Ellyse Russell, Kristen Collingwood, Juli Warren and Macy Trombley.
200 free - Russell, J. Warren, Collingwood, Bentley
200 IM - J. Warren, Russell, Collingwood, Trombley, Aguilar, Bentley, Stanek
50 freestyle - Russell, Trombley, Warren, Kaci Bentley, Collingwood.
1-meter diving - Kyra Klinghagen and J. Warren.
100 butterfly - Collingwood, J. Warren, Russell, Trombley, Stanek, Bentley
100 free - Russell, J. Warren, Trombley, Bentley, Collingwood
500 free - Russell, J. Warren, Collingwood, Trombley, Ella Stanek and Kylie Warren
200 freestyle relay -Trombley, Collingwood, J. Warren, Russell; and Bentley, Stanek, K. Warren and Annalise Newell.
100 backstroke - Russell, J. Warren, Felicia Aguilar, Trombley, Collingwood, Stanek, Bentley
100 breaststroke - J. Warren, K. Warren, Russell, Aguilar
400 freestyle relay - Trombley, Collingwood, J. Warren, Russell
Blissett said swimmers can compete in up to two individual events and up to three relays, but no more than four total events.
Throughout the season, the swimmers have competed and qualified in a number of events and that provides them a choice on what to compete in at state based on how they think they'll do.
Blissett added that the Lady Warriors want to perform as best as they can individually, as well as a team.
He said in addition to swimming for top placings, Blissett said swimmers will also be looking to set season-best, personal-best or perhaps team-best records.