by Brian Hoffman
The Salem High swim team had a busy stretch in the water last week with meets at the Salem YMCA and the Roanoke Gator Center.
Last Tuesday in Salem the Spartans took on Lord Botetourt, Roanoke Catholic and a huge Jefferson Forest team. The combined scores had Salem beating LB, 193-91, topping Roanoke Catholic, 198-119, but losing to Jefferson Forest, 206-116.
First places for the girls included Eliza Fleenor in the 200 IM and 100 Breast, Emma LaFountain in the 100 Free and the 200 Free Relay team of Lauren Baba, Jayden Jenkins, LaFountain and Fleenor.
For the boys, the 200 Free relay team of Cole Bowen, Zach Easter, Walker Peterson and Joren Poush came out on top and Poush also won the 50 Free.
On Thursday of last week the Spartans went head-to-head with Hidden Valley at the Gator Center and came out on top in the combined scoring, 162 to 158. The boys fueled the win, outscoring the Titans 120-37 while Hidden Valley’s girls prevailed, 121-42.
Poush, John Atkins, Easter and Peterson won the 200 medley relay. Joren also won the 200 IM and 100 Breast while Easter won the 200 Free. Bowen and Peterson were one-two in the 100 Free and Zach Bocock won the 500 Free his first time racing the event.
The boys took first and second in the 200 free relay with Bowen, Easter, Peterson and Poush winning and the team of Davis Griffith, Aidan Poush, Zane Easter and Thomas Miles taking second. In the 400 Relay John Atkins, Davis Griffith, William Marable and Bowen won while Hall Blackwood, Ian Berroteran, Starke Griffith and Zane Easter took second.
Eliza Fleenor won both the 100 Backstroke and 100 Breast for the girls and Jayden Jenkins won the 500 Free.
Salem had two meets this week, on Tuesday at Christiansburg and Wednesday at Hollins, but results were too late for publication.