DIVISION I-A SWIMMING: Eagles boys, girls seize team titles at regionals

When the Boulder City girls swimming team competed at the Class 4A level, it always fell short of winning a team title, finishing second on two occasions.

But the Eagles proved to be head and shoulders above the field in Division I-A.

Alex Hubel, Rebecca Lelles and Rachael Grothe each won two events, and Boulder City won every event on Saturday at the Division I-A Southern Region meet at UNLV’s Buchanan Natatorium.

The Eagles scored 506 points to capture the first region title program history. Faith Lutheran was second with 331 points, and Clark (270) finished third. The top four finishers in each event advance to the state meet Saturday at Carson Aquatic Facility.

“We knew there wasn’t going to be a lot of competition,” Boulder City coach Sara Carroll said. “In a lot of cases they raced each other and they were trying to get All-American times. They got up just to show we’re a good team.”

Hubel won the 50-yard freestyle in 23.96 seconds and added the 100 freestyle (50.72), topping Summer Luchsinger of Chaparral in both events. Lelles was first in the 200 individual medley (2:14.21) and 100 breaststroke (1:10.57).

Grothe held off teammate Jessica Purdy to win the 100 butterfly in 59.43 and tied for first with teammate Aubrey Klouse in the 100 backstroke (1:04.15) in the most exciting race of the meet.

Nadira Koljenovic of Western led Grothe by six-tenths of a second at the midway point, but she was unable to hold off Grothe and Klouse, who moved up with a strong final lap. Koljenovic ended up third in 1:04.23 and was also third in the 100 breastroke.

Faith Lutheran’s Rori Conners qualified for state in two events, finishing fourth in the 200 and 500 freestyle. Boulder City’s Sally Priest (third in 50 free; fourth in 100 free) and Erin Warshefski (third in 200 individual medley; fourth in 100 butterfly) also qualified in two events.

Cori Molisee of Boulder City held off Megan Purdy in the 200 freestyle, winning in a school-record time of 1:51.66. Megan Purdy returned the favor in the 500 freestyle, making a move after 150 yards to win in 4:57.84. 
Boulder City’s boys also won all 11 events, led by double-winners Jared Smith, Jeremy Estes and Joey Gebhart.

The Eagles scored 575 points, easily outdistancing Clark (286) and Faith Lutheran (230).
Smith dominated the distance freestyle races, finishing the 200 in 1:40.24 and the 500 in 4:32.31.

“Those times are real legit,” Carroll said.

Estes used a strong start to set a school record in the 50 freestyle (21.08) and also rolled in the 100 butterfly (50.44). Gebhart set a school mark in the 100 backstroke (50.74) and pulled away from teammate Tore Grasso in the 100 freestyle (46.68).

Gunner Braden won the 100 breaststroke in 58.94, and Sam Sauerbrei touched first in the 200 individual medley (1:58.72).

“Most of the kids made drops (from qualifying), so they ended the season with a good feeling,” Carroll said. “I’m happy for them. There’s some really good times.”

Western’s Halim Koljenovic qualified in two events, taking second in the 100 backstroke and third in the 100 butterfly. William Wang of Clark was second in the 100 breaststroke and fourth in the 50 free, and Cheyenne’s Morgan Thompson was fourth in the 200 freestyle and third in the 500 freestyle.