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Provo • Emery High's swimming program has come a long way since the Spartans built a pool seven years ago and had two individuals qualify for state.
The "start-from-scratch" program reached maturity Thursday as the 34-member Emery squad captured both the 2A boys' and girls' state swim championships at BYU.
This is only the second year 2A schools had their own state meet, and, judging from the crowds, emotions and enthusiasm, it is a roaring success.
The Spartans won with depth. Madi Allinson won the 200-yard IM, Laryssa Guymon took the butterfly and Chyanne Carter reigned in the 200-yard freestyle for the girls. Those three and freshman Kaitlyn Carter also won the 400-yard freestyle relay.
The Emery boys' lone title, appropriately, came from the medley relay where Devin Wilson, Kelven Childs, Daryl Guymon and Nate Gilbert prevailed.
Emery's boys earned a 266-241 team victory over defending champion North Summit, while the Spartan girls captured a 268.5-211.5 win over Grand County.
Emery coach Tammie Oliverson has worked hand-in-hand with Andrea Johansen to build toward a day when both the girls and the boys could win swim titles.
"I work full time, and she is a mom, so it takes both of us to get it done," said Oliverson.
The Emery coach said she thought winning both titles was a possibility, but — after her first girls' relay team was disqualified — she thought it was up in the air.
"Just the depth is what got us there," she said.
Oliverson said Alex Stilson, Levi Jensen and Garret Stilson finished fourth, fifth and sixth in the 500-yard freestyle. Until Thursday, the three had never all been under six minutes in that event.
Grand County, competing for the third year after building a new indoor pool four years ago, saw Alexa Pierce win both the 50- and 100-yard freestyle races and earn girl Swimmer of the Year honors.
"I was nervous for both of them," said Pierce, whose dad, Brian, is the Grand coach. "I wanted to try my best and see what happens. This is the third year for high school swimming. It's still fairly new."
Brian Pierce said his team had 20 competitors this year and will likely have close to 30 next year.
Summit Academy's Jacob Brook earned 2A boy Swimmer of the Year honors. He won the 500-yard freestyle by just under 46 seconds as well as the 100-yard butterfly title. He was also on the team's winning 400-yard relay squad.
North Summit's Sam Crittenden also had a big day, with titles in the backstroke and 100-yard freestyle as well as being part of a 200-yard freestyle relay.
The 1-meter diving championships, which don't count toward team scores, were also held Thursday. Lone Peak's Kimble Mahler won the boys title, while Bingham's Lizzie Holmes successfully defended her girls crown.
"I don't think about winning," said Holmes. "I just think about diving the best that I can. I have been diving for five years. … It is really based on your mindset when you are diving."
After the first day of the 5A meet, the Viewmont boys held a 138-87 lead over Lone Peak with Brighton in third with 85 and Cottonwood fourth with 82. The Viewmont girls also led Lone Peak 122-107 after the first night with West in third with 92 points and Brighton in fourth at 85.5.
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State swimming results
Class 2A boys champions
50-Yard Freestyle • Dominic Stagg, South Summit
200-yard IM • Isaac Landau, Rowland Hall
200-yard freestyle • McKinley Card, South Summit
200-yard medley relay • Emery (Devin Wilson, Kelven Childs, Daryl Guymon, Nate Gilbert)
100-yard butterfly • Jacob Brook, Summit Academy
500-yard freestyle • Jacob Brook, Summit Academy
200-yard freestyle relay • North Summit (Sam Crittenden, Trystin Hellander, Eisley Scholes, Jace Hirzel)
100-yard backstroke • Sam Crittenden, North Summit
100-yard breaststroke • Eisley Scholes, North Summit
400-yard freestyle relay • Summit Academy (Jacob Brook, Oliver Swanson, Austin Wistisen, George Brayden)
Team Scores • Emery 266, North Summit 241, Rowland Hall 140.5, South Summit 139, Summit Academy 136.5, Delta 124, Grand County 79, American Leadership Academy 26, Millard 24, Oakley 3
Class 2A girls champions
200-yard IM • Madi Allinson, Emery
100-yard butterfly • Laryssa Guymon, Emery
50-yard freestyle • Alexa Pierce, Grand County
200-yard freestyle • Chyanne Carter, Emery
200-yard medley relay • Grand County (Heather Sweeney, Robin Willscheidt, Alexa Pierce, Ellie Kelly)
100-yard freestyle • Alexa Pierce, Grand County
500-yard freestyle • Olivia Reynolds, Summit Academy
Freestyle Relay • Grand County (River Richards, Ellie Kelly, Jayelen Knowles, Alexa Pierce) 100-yard backstroke • Morgan Davis, Intermountain Christian
100-yard breaststroke • Kelsey Oliver, Rowland Hall
400-yard freestyle relay • Emery (Chyanne Carter, Kaitlyn Carter, Madi Allinson, Laryssa Guymon)
Team scores • Emery 268.5, Grand County 211.5, North Summit 199, Rowland Hall 133, Summit Academy 95, South Summit 90, American Leadership Academy 69, Delta 31, Intermountain Christian 29, Wasatch Academy 23
1-Meter diving
Boys • 1. Kimble Mahler, Lone Peak; 2. Christopher Stubbs, Provo; 3. Calvin Cook, Highland Girls • 1. Lizzie Holmes, Bingham; 2. Joelle Pugmire, Pleasant Grove; 3. Reagan Callaway, Cottonwood
Class 5A first-day results
Girls • 200-yard medley relay, Viewmont (Marah Smith. Mariah Gassaway, Sienna Smith, McKenna Gassaway. 200-yard freestyle, Autumn Wolfgram, West. 200-yard IM, Katie Smith, Lone Peak. 50-yard freestyle, Abbey Sorensen, Riverton.
Team Scores: Viewmont 122, Lone Peak 107. West 92, Brighton 88.5, American Fork, 65, Westlake 41.5, Jordan 41, Cottonwood 41, Riverton 35, Bingham 35, Herriman 29, Hunter 21, Weber 18, Lehi 14, Hillcrest 19, Davis 6, Alta 5, Pleasant Grove 2.
Boys • 200-yard medley relay., Brighton (Brock Harries, Jack Binder, Parker Wiest, Brian O'Neal). 200-yard freestyle, Steven Okelberry, American Fork. 200-yard IM, Jonah Simon, Cottonwood. 50-yard freestyle, Brock Harries, Brighton.
Team Scores: Viewmont 138, Lone Peak 87, Brighton 85, Cottonwood 82, Lehi 68, American Fork 48, Bingham 38, Westlake 35, Hiollcrest 31, Layton 26, Riverton 20, Copper Hills 19, Hunter 19, Fremont 18, Davis 14, West 13, Pleasant Grove 11, Taylorsville 8, Syracuse 7, Herriman 6.