Engan, Sturgess lead local swimmers

Carson High's Jamie Engan and Douglas High's Andy Sturgess were among the local swimmers who had strong days at the NIAA State Swimming Championships on Saturday in Las Vegas.

Engan took second in the 500-yard freestyle and was also part of Carson's 200-yard freestyle relay team that took second in an event that was won by Galena. Sturgess had a strong day to lead the Douglas boys to an outstanding finish as they took third.

Boulder City won the boys title with 132 points and were followed by Reno High (74 points) and Douglas (43 points). Reno's girls edged McQueen for the state title 80-76 as the Lancers took second. Galena was seventh (32 points) and Carson was ninth (28 points).

Engan took second in the 500 free in four minutes, 56.21 seconds. Boulder City's Blakeley Bunch won the event in 4:54.55. Carson's Lauren Metcalf took seventh in 5:22.80.

In the girls 200 free, Galena's Janelle Lasko, Marla Pavik, Mandee Busch and Kayla Mariana won in 1:42.42 while Engan, Hilary Schlager, Rebekah Niehoff and Katie Wandel took second in 1:43.13. Engan also took fourth in the 200 individual medley in 2:07.80.

Sturgess had four top three finishes. He took third in the 100 free in 48.23 and third in the 50 free in 22.16. He teamed with Trevor Schaff, Justin White and Hayes Wilson to take third in the 400 free relay (3:26.22). The same foursome also took second in the 200 free relay in 1:33.53.

For Carson's boys, Kiel Costella took fifth in the 500 free (4:54.90) and Jake Oxoby was eighth in the 100 butterfly (58.55). Other top local finishes included:

Girls 400 free relay - Galena, Lasko, Mariana, Busch, Pavik, seventh, 3:47.17. Girls 100 butterfly - Mariana, seventh, 1:01.81. Boys 100 fly - Schaff, seventh, 57.97. Girls 50 free - Busch, sixth, 25.82.

Girls diving - Trisha Wesner, Galena, sixth, 370.45. Boys diving - Steve Owens, Douglas, 282.10. Boys 100 breasstroke - Jonathon Garvey, Galena, fifth, 1:02.90.