PREPS: Douglas girls fall just short in bid for regional title

The Douglas girls' swim team came up just six points shy of a regional team title Saturday afternoon at the Carson Aquatic Facility.

Galena edged out the Lady Tigers 289-283 to claim the regional championship while Reno finished third and Damonte rounded out the top four.

The Tiger boys squad also made a splash, taking third as a team behind Reno and Galena in order. Carson's boys finished seventh and the Senator girls finished eighth in the championship meet.

The top three finishers in each event clinched spots at next weekend's state championships, which will also be at the Carson Aquatic Center.

The Lady Tigers' 200 free relay squad of Meagan Skilling, Shaelin Morefield, Elizabeth Cruz and Mary Smithen won the regional title with a time of 1:43.01. Smithen also grabbed a regional title in the 50 free with a regional meet record time of 24.32 seconds.

The Douglas girls' 400 free relay team of Clara Gray, Elizabeth Cruz, Erica Chappell and Meagan Skilling punched its ticket to state with a third-place finish and a time of 3:55.75. Skilling, Morefield, Smithen and Cruz also took second in the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:53.23

Morefield took second in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:08.64 and third in the 100 fly at 59.20.

Amber Taylor and Samantha Phillips went second and third in diving respectively to clinch spots at state.

On the boys' side, Douglas' Cody Funk claimed the regional title in diving with a score of 314.70 and Michael Darby was the regional runner-up in the event with a score of 289.90.

The Douglas 200 free relay team of Kyle Jenkins, Janosch Lancaster, Cameron Morefield and Kyle Johnston finished second at 1:33.70.

Johnston was also the regional runner-up in the 100 fly (54.46).

For Carson, the boys' 400 free relay team of Zachary White, Ashton McIntosh, Gary Showalter and Tim Grunert clinched a spot at state by taking third in a time of 3:34.57.

Carson's Elizabeth Everest and Abigail Pittman just narrowly missed the cut for state in the 500 free, going fourth and fifth respectively with times of 5:35.86 and 5:36.03.

The Senator girls also got points from its 200 free relay squad of Sophie Holmes, Abigail Pittman, Erin Chang and Everest (fourth, 1:47.90); Sophie Holmes (seventh, 100 free, 58.78; 13th, 100 breaststroke, 1:17.94); Erin Chang (12th, 50 free, 27.22 and twelfth, 100 free, 1:00.76); Everest (10th, 200 free, 2:06.56) and Pittman (11th, 2:08.60).

Carson's Grunert was fourth in the 200 IM with a time of 2:06.47, followed closely by White in fifth at 2:18.65. Showalter was eighth in the 100 breaststroke (1:07.08); Andrew Peckham finished ninth in the 500 free (6:10.36) and 15th in the 200 free (2:16.76); White was ninth in the 100 free (53.79); and McIntosh was 10th in the 50 free (24.14) and 12th in the 100 free with a time of 53.83. Kyle Smith, Peckham, Angel Salas and Brandon Buonacorsi took 15th in the 200 medley relay (2:10.77).

Other point scorers for the Douglas boys included the 400 free relay team of TJ Smithen, Jacob VanBeuge, Cameron Morefield and Janosch Lancaster (fourth, 3:43.55); Morefield (fifth, 100 back, 57.40); Johnston (fourth, 200 free, 1:48.18); Lancaster (eighth, 100 free, 53.83; eighth, 100 back, 1:00.37); Smithen (ninth, 100 back, 1:00.37; ninth, 100 fly, 1:01.16); Brennan Grau (fourth, diving, 238.40); Devin Osband (fifth, diving, 213.95); Jenkins (11th, 50 free, 24.48); Jake Sellers (16th, 200 IM, 2:46.62).

Smithen, Morefield, Johnston and Jenkins took fourth as a team in the boys' 200 medley relay with a time of 1:45.58.