Michial Polk, head coach for the Boulder City/Henderson Heatwave amateur swim club, was all smiles as he shook hands with well-wishers after the four-day Nevada State Short Course Swimming Championships ended Nov. 11.
The coach had plenty to be proud of as his swimmers dominated at the Heritage Park Aquatics Center in Henderson. The Heatwave had 248 swimmers competing.
“We had many great swims at the state meet and we had a fantastic team effort from the boys and girls in all our age groups,” Polk said. “It was the largest Nevada State Championships meet ever and the first one run at the Heritage Park Aquatics Center, and I have to say that parents were just as impressive as the athletes. The volunteer parents helped us pull off a fantastic event.”
Senior Jared Smith broke the state meet record for the age group 15-over in the 200 backstroke with a time of 1 minute, 48.87 seconds. He tied for the high-points award for 15-18 boys.
Junior Alex Hubel broke the state’s 15-over age group record with a 50:47 seconds in the 100 freestyle. She broke the 50 freestyle record twice in 24 hours.
“I was happy that both Alex and Jared broke meet records amid their many top swims. Our success in the state meet sets us up very well for the upcoming regional championship meets, such as the 14-and-under Junior Olympics in January and the Southern California Swimming Age Group Championships in February.
“But it also was a great tune-up for our national level swimmers heading into the Chesapeake Elite Pro Am in Oklahoma City, Okla., on Dec. 19-22.”
In the boys 15-18 age group, Smith dominated many events.
Smith set his record in the 200 backstroke, while four teammates placed in the top 11. Joey Gebhart was third (1:55.60), Sam Sauerbrei was fourth (1:56.05) and Adam Peterson was fifth (1:57.96). Jason Lyon was 11th in 2:02.34.
Smith also was first in the 200 freestyle (1:40.71), while Peterson was fourth (1:45.44). Smith won the 500 freestyle in 4:33.74, Peterson was fourth and Sauerbrei was ninth.
Smith won the 100 backstroke (51.19) and Gebhart was third (53.63). Smith was second in the 1,650 freestyle (16:16.15) and Peterson was third (16:31.75). Smith also was second (47.44) in the 100 freestyle, edging Gebhart (47.94) who was third.
Smith was third in the 200 individual medley (1:56.27), while Gebhart was fifth, Sauerbrei eighth and Peterson ninth.
In winning the 400 freestyle relay in 3:14.63, Smith and Gebhart teamed with Luke Trafton and Jake Chir. In winning the 400 medley relay in 3:38.16, Smith and Gebhart teamed Michael Velazquez and Carter Friedrich.
Gebhart won the 100 butterfly (51.79) and Sauerbrei was fourth (52.87). In the 50 freestyle, Gebhart was fourth and Sauerbrei ninth.
Sauerbrei won first place in the 200 butterfly (1:55.65) and Peterson (1:57.96) was second. Sauerbrei (4:11.14) was second in the 400 individual medley.
Hubel excelled in the girls’ state competition.
Hubel set one record in the 100 freestyle in an event that Rachael Grothe was seventh and Cori Molisee eighth. She broke the 50 freestyle record (23.55) for 16-year-olds. Grothe was sixth and Molisee seventh.
In winning the 400 freestyle relay in 3:33.18, Hubel and Grothe teamed with Molisee and Amy Lubawy. In winning the 400 medley relay in 3:57.65, Hubel and Grothe teamed Lubawy and Melanie Harris.
In the 200 freestyle Hubel was second (1:52.17) when she was touched-out at the wall. Molisee was eighth and Jessica Purdy was 21st. Purdy was 14th in the 500 freestyle and McKenzie Cummings was 21st.
Molisee placed second (17:46.19) in the 1,650 yard and Cummings was eighth.
In the 100 backstroke, Grothe was eighth and Hubel 16th. Grothe was seventh in the 200 backstroke and Molisee was 16th.
Grothe won the 100 butterfly in 57.16, while Hubel was third (57.88) and Purdy was eighth. Grothe was third in the 200 butterfly (2:06.29) and Purdy was sixth.
Hubel was 10th in the 200 individual medley, while Molisee was 11th. Grothe placed 15th in the 400 individual medley.