MHS sends 16 to regional swim meet

Coach Jay Thomas' fourth season as head swim coach has been his most challenging, with few returning lettermen and freshman and sophomores filling key relay spots.

The hard work of coach and team began to bear fruit last weekend with 16 Monahans swimmers qualifying for the regional meet in Lubbock.  All six relay teams made the district meet finals in Fort Stockton, automatically earning a spot at regionals.

Medals were hard to come by at Stockton.  The Pecos Eagles, who have been so dominant in the district the last four years, just about owned the meet this season.

"There were very few races Pecos did not win," Thomas said.  "They are going to dominate at regionals, too."

Both MHS Medley teams earned hardware, the girls taking second, and the boys third.  Mackenzie Miles, Lacey Nichols, Sarah Loehman, and Catherine Cutbirth swam a 2:10.67 to earn silver.  They will have one of the best chances to advance to the state meet.

"Lacey really swam a fast leg in the breast stroke," the coach said.  " I think that was her best of the year."

The boys team of Zac Vaughn, Jarren Nall, Brandon Nichols, and Will Everett came in at 1:52.32 to earn bronze. 

Individual medals went to Miles, second in the 100 backstroke and the 200 freestyle.  Sarah Loehman, third in the butterfly, and Vaughn, third in the backstroke.

The boys 200 free relay took fourth, as did the girls.  Everett, Vaughn, Nichols, and Justin Spinks swam 1:43.72.  Loehman teamed up with Jennifer Bravo, Shayla Wallace, and Erin Garcia to swim a 2:00.37.

Freshman Hillary Torbett and Abbi Meek earned trips to Lubbock in the 200 individual medley and the 500 free, respectively, and Lacey Nichols will swim in the 100 breaststroke after her fourth place swim.  Brandon Nichols took fourth in the boys 50 freestyle.

Loehman, Meek, Cutbirth, and Miles won third in he 400 relay with a 4:15.28.  Spinks, Griffin Ice, Jeremy Brown and Everett took fifth in the boys 400, the final race.

Miles four-event performance came as no surprise to Thomas.  Now down to her last month as a Lobo swimmer (hopefully with two more meets), the coach said there were very few like her.  Her "burn week" workouts are tiring event to the observer, running more than three miles, lifting , then hitting the pool for a marathon session.

"She is just a great kid," he said.  "Mack works so hard, on her own on the weekends, and never complains about anything.  More than that, she is just an all-around good person.  She never has a bad thing to say about anyone, is always willing to give someone the benefit of the doubt.  She is sweet."

Junior Sarah Loehman earned praise for her performance, and the coach said she has been pushed so hard for so long she may have to rest before regionals.  

"She is broke down," he said.  " Sarah swam real well, but I know her shoulders have got to be hurting some from so many butterflies.  I have no doubt she will step up at regionals."

Vaughn, the only person on the team who can push Miles in workouts (sometimes beating her in the backstroke), is making the trip to Lubbock for the third straight year.  The junior swims with a lot of heart, according to his coach, and is expected to peak next weekend.  

The girls' team finished third overall with 44 points, and the boys were fourth with 25.

Now the focus is on the ultimate goal, the state meet.  The only guaranteed qualifiers are the gold medallists.  The next best eight times will get the call up for Austin.  MHS has had good success in the past with the call-ups, and for Thomas the guessing game is on.

"Mackenzie can make it in both of her races, but she will have to go a few seconds lower," he said.  "The girls medley will have to get down to about 2:07.  We have some chances, and you always see some good times on Saturday at that pool."

The team wrapped up a hard week of workouts last Thursday and will get in a late warm-up swim that night.  Prelims start at 9:30 Friday with the finals Saturday morning at 9:00.