The Salem High swimmers played host to William Byrd and Northside last week in the final home dual meet of the year, and the Spartans swept both the boys’ and girls’ meets.
The boys won 117-28 over Byrd and 119-42 against Northside. The 200 medley relay team of Jake Lawson, James Miles, Shayom Debopadhaya and Nick Lawson started the meet with a win in a time of 1:50.07. Then, Jake Lawson (2:11.12), Miles (2:21.95), and Ben James (2:28.00) swept the 200 IM events, taking first through third.
Ben Shenal placed 1st in the 100 Free in a time of 53.61 and took 2nd in the 50 free in 24.45. Jake Lawson and his brother Nick swept the 100 fly again, finishing 1st and 2nd respectively in 56.41 and 1:00.20. Nick Lawson also won the 100 Back in a time of 58.43.
The relay of Logan DeWalt, Ben Shenal, Nick Lawson, and Jake Bowery won the 200 free relay in a time of 1:40.76. The relay of Bowery, Debopadhaya, DeWalt, and Jake Lawson won the 400 free relay in a time of 3:54.86.
The girls also beat Byrd, 103 – 65, and Northside, 127-39. The ladies also started off with a win in the 200 medley relay. The team of Ellyn Anama, Anna Clare Fleenor, McKenna Habeeb, and Sandy James won in a time of 1:59.88.
Abbey Greer placed 2nd in both the 50 free (28.16) and the 100 free (1:04.39). Anna Clare Fleenor won both the 500 free (5:35.15) and the 100 Breast (1:15.13). Alyssa Akers placed 2nd in the 100 Breast in a 1:30.32.
The relay of Drew McCauley, Abigail Crawford, Claire Peterson, and Greer placed 2nd in the 200 free relay in 2:00.50. The relay of James, Sarah Kate Brownmiller, Anama, and Fleenor placed 1st in the 400 free relay in a time of 3:58.58 and the team of Peterson, Annalise Crawford, Abby Markham,and Abigail Crawford placed 2nd in a time of 4:55.97
Salem also honored seven seniors who competed in their final home meet. For the boys, Alex Anama, Jake Bowery, and Ben Shenal all swam in their final home meet. For the girls, Abbey Greer, Drew McCauley, Caroline Peterson, and Ashlyn Pugh all swam for the final time at the Salem YMCA.
“This class has been a tremendous example of what it means to work hard and compete in every meet,” said coach Jacob Van Roekel. “They would always come to practice ready to work, and just as important, they would come to every meet ready to race.
“They were a competitive group that really helped to elevate Salem High School’s Swim team. Not only did they compete in the water, but they also reached out to their teammates and classmates and helped to grow the size of the team. They truly care about the swim team and the direction it is going, which thanks to them is on an upward trend.”
Salem was scheduled to swim against Patrick Henry at the Kirk Y in Roanoke on Wednesday of this week.
Glenvar will be back in the water for a meet for the first time since Christmas on Friday. The Highlanders will compete in the “Swim for a Cure” at Hollins University against James River, Radford, George Wythe, Rural Retreat and Galax.
“We swim this meet every year to give us a good indication of where we stand since we swim these
schools at regions,” said coach Keith Gaines.
