Heatwave’s younger swimmers show promise

The Boulder City/Henderson Heatwave amateur swim club has more than 500 swimmers on its roster, but that doesn’t keep the younger athletes from getting noticed.

Heatwave head coach Michial Polk was not only impressed by his senior-level swimmers at the Nevada State Short Course Swimming Championships, but he also smiled happily as several of the younger swimmers took center stage in their age-group competitions.

The Heatwave, with 248 swimmers entered in the four-day event, was successful in several age groups in the boys and girls competitions Nov. 11 at the Heritage Park Aquatics Center in Henderson.

“We had many great swims at the state meet and a few came from the younger swimmers and that is good for our future,” Polk said. “It was the largest Nevada State Championships meet ever and the first one run at the Heritage Park Aquatics Center but the younger swimmers were not intimidated. They went out and swam well.

“They need to continue to work hard and plan for success in the upcoming regional championship meet for the 14-and-under Junior Olympics in January and the Southern California Swimming Age Group Championships in February.”

In the boys 9-10 age group, Joey Purdy swam 2 minutes, 18.69 seconds in the 200 freestyle to place second, while Elijah Wyett was seventh (2:28.47).

Wyett also was sixth in the 50 freestyle (31.95) and seventh in the 100 freestyle (1:10.01). He placed fifth in the 50 backstroke (36.32), followed by teammate Max Vanderford in 10th place (37.39). In the 100 backstroke, Wyett was third (1:18.25) and Vanderford was eighth.

Purdy placed fourth in the 50 breaststroke (40.03) and Martin Thompson was eighth. Purdy was third in the 100 breaststroke (1:25.77) and Thompson was sixth.

In the 50 butterfly, Purdy was fifth and Thompson was sixth. In the 100 butterfly, Purdy was fourth and Wyett was fifth.

Purdy finished third in the 100 individual medley, followed by Thompson in seventh. Purdy was fourth in the 200 individual medley, Wyett was fifth and Thompson was seventh.

In the winning 200 freestyle relay in 2:00.69, Purdy teamed with Andrew Navarro, Joseph Disorbo and Reid Brophy. In the winning 200 medley relay in 2:14.22, Purdy teamed with Navarro, Brophy and Ricky Kurosawa.

In the 11-12 boys competition, Mason Romantic finished sixth (1:19.05) in the 100 breaststroke.

In the 5-8 age group girls’ competition, Tara Higley and Sydney Selinger excelled for the Heatwave.

Higley was second (15.21) in the 25 yard freestyle and Selinger was seventh (15.93). In the 50 freestyle, Higley was second (33.41). She was third in the 100 freestyle (1:17.60) and Selinger fourth (1:18.29).

Higley placed second in the 25 backstroke (18.43) and third in the 50 backstroke.

In the 25 breaststroke, Selinger finished fourth (22.34) and in the 50 breaststroke she was sixth. She was third in the 50 butterfly (39.47) and sixth in the 25 butterfly.

Selinger was second in the 100 individual medley (1:24.96) while Higley was fifth.

In the winning 100 freestyle relay in 1:04.49, Higley and Selinger teamed with Brooke Jacobson and Kennia Ascencion. In the winning 100 medley relay in 1:16.43, Higley, Jacobson and Ascencion teamed with Lidia Thevonot.

In the 9-10 age group girls’ competition, Tana Higley was fourth in the 50 backstroke in 36.15 seconds. She was eighth (31.61) in the 50 freestyle.

In the 11-12 age group girls’ competition, Lauren Olson was eighth (2:13.19) in the 200 freestyle.

Mandy Gebhart and Abby Sauerbrei swam well in the 13-14 age group in the girls’ competition.

In the 1,650 freestyle, Gebhart (18:19.33) was fifth and Sauerbrei was seventh (18:36.01). Gebhart was fifth in the 100 backstroke and fifth in the 200 backstroke.

Sauerbrei placed fifth in the 200 butterfly (2:17.74) and seventh in the 100 butterfly.