Cougars, Warriors vying for top swim times

Once again, Kearns High’s swimming team is making the most of its quality depth. Many boys and girls swimmers were ranked within the top 50 event times among 5A schools as of Dec. 5.

Sam Huff held seven of Kearns’ boys eight top individual times and was ranked within the top 10 in the state in each event. Meanwhile, Melissa Bergesen and Alisa Gouge had every top individual time for Kearns’ girls and were ranked within the top eight in the state.

Kearns

Gouge held three top individual times and Bergesen five for the Cougar girls.

Gouge led Kearns in the 100 backstroke (1:02.06, first in state), 200 freestyle (2:02.96, fifth) and 500 free (5:30.88, sixth). Bergesen was tops in the 200 individual medley (2:16.18, second), 100 butterfly (1:02.29, fourth), 100 free (56.13, fourth), 100 breaststroke (1:11.20, fourth) and 50 free (26.26, eighth).

Meanwhile, several other Kearns swimmers were ranked within the top 20 in the state.

Gouge was fourth in the 200 IM (2:19.40), 11^th in the 100 free and 18^th in the 50 free and Bergesen was fifth in the 100 back (1:04.95) and 10^th in the 200 free (2:04.70). Sierra Erickson was seventh in the 100 fly (1:03.80) and 17^th in the 100 back and Jessica Fullmer was 11^th in the 200 IM, 12^th in the 500 free and 16^th in the 200 free. Rachel Butterfield was 20^th in the 100 breast.

Huff is picking up right where he left off for Kearns’ boys. Huff led the Cougars in the 50 free (21.33, first in state), 100 free (47.34, second), 100 breast (1:03.80, fifth), 200 IM (2:03.71, sixth), 100 fly (55.27, sixth), 100 back (56.26, sixth) and 200 free (1:51.18, 10^th). Adam Parkinson had the other fast time for the Cougars, leading the boys in the 500 free (5:12.93, 20^th).

Like the girls team, several other boys were also ranked within the top 20 in the state.

Thomas Haskan was seventh in the 100 back (56.67) and 15^th in the 100 fly, Bryce Pearson was seventh in the 100 breast (1:04.72) and Kevin Anderson was seventh in the 50 free (22.60), 16^th in the 100 free and 18^th in the 100 back. Parkinson was 20^th in the 200 free and Nathan Peercy 20^th in the 100 breast.

Kearns’ girls finished fifth at the state championships last season and the boys were eighth.

Taylorsville

Aferdit Sadrija held five top individual times for Taylorsville’s girls team. Sadrija led the 500 free (6:11.01, 37^th in state), 200 free (2:14.74, 41^st), 100 back (1:12.38, 44^th), 100 free (1:01.18, 49^th) and 50 free (28.25, unranked). Maggie Poole was tops in the 200 IM (3:02.59), Maybel Amaya led the 100 fly (1:28.79) and Asia Drayton led the 100 breast (1:30.92). None were ranked within the top 50.

Ben Baldridge had four top times for the Warrior boys. Baldridge was pacing the team in the 100 back (1:01.31, 34^th in state), 50 free (24.01, 35^th), 100 free (53.47, 47^th) and 100 breast (1:12.00, unranked). John Anderson had two top times – 200 free (2:02.80) and 200 IM (2:27.36) – Jordan Westover led the 100 fly (1:02.82) and Cody Adair led the 500 free (5:44.19). None were ranked within the top 50.