SUNSET SWIMMING: Gorman girls, Palo Verde boys prevail

Palo Verde coach Brent Gonzalez was handed a sheet of paper with the team scores after seven events of the Sunset Region girls swimming and diving meet Saturday. Seeing that his team leading Bishop Gorman by five points, he began dancing facetiously.

“I knew they were going to get us, but to be that close is nice,” Gonzalez said. “The girls really did step up the last two days. There were a lot of good swims.”

Gorman won eight events and set seven region records at UNLV’s Buchanan Natatorium, but it wasn’t until Anne and Rachel Boodt finished 1-2 in the 100-yard backstroke that the Gaels sewed up their third straight region title.

Gorman finished with 543 points, while Palo Verde took second with 478 points.

The top two finishers in each event qualify for the Division I state meet this Saturday at Carson Aquatic Facility in Carson City. The third-place finisher with the best time between the Sunrise and Sunset regions also advances.

“It was important to us this year to put together the best Gorman swim team in school history,” coach Ron Aitken said. “It’s something we want to show the kids that come next, to give them a goal to be as good as this year’s team.”

Gaels senior Olivia Barker set two region records, passing teammate Rachel Boodt in the final 50 yards of the 200 individual medley to win going away in 2:04.08. Barker then broke her own mark in the 100 butterfly, touching in 54.78.

Gorman set a region record in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:47.88, smashing the mark of 1:51.16 set by the Gaels last year, and broke the 200 and 400 freestyle relays records, too. Amy Lubawy broke her region record in the 50 free (23.56) and Marley Maluafiti won the 100 free in a record time of 51.86.

Erin Emery of Palo Verde won the 200 freestyle in 1:51.44, pulling away in the second half. Gorman’s Lindsey Englestead outtouched Izzy Goldsmith by three-hundreths of a second for the other automatic bid to state.
Emery, who swam at the U.S. Olympic Trials last summer, added the 500 freestyle title in 4:58.61.

Palo Verde’s boys won 10 of the 11 events to score 482 points and win their 13th consecutive region title.

Gorman’s Zack Boudreaux was the only swimmer to break the Panthers’ stranglehold as he dropped nearly a second off his qualifying time to win the 50 freestyle in 22.19.

Michael Mortenson won two events for the Panthers, taking the 200 individual medley (1:56.68) and the 100 butterfly (51.10). Luke Trafton also was a two-time winner, touching first in the 100 freestyle (48.5) and the 100 backstroke (53.70).

“I don’t think the boys want to lose it,” Gonzalez said. “They stepped up. They came out here and performed.”