Olympus swim team competes in District Championships before winter break

The Olympus High swim team made a good showing at the Granite District Swimming Championships Dec. 16 at the West Valley Recreation Center. Other schools competing at the meet were Cottonwood, Cyprus, Granger, Hunter, Kearns, Skyline and Taylorsville.

Senior Shawn Western finished first in the 100 yard backstroke; junior Shaylee Howard took second place in both the 200 freestyle and the 100 back; freshman Abby Loden took second in the 500 free; freshman Laura Spencer was second in the 100 breaststroke; junior Jarom Chamberlain finished third in the 200 individual medley and fourth in the 100 free; and senior Emily Ference took fourth place in the 100 butterfly.

“We did fairly well,” coach Brad Goffe said. “The kids are still dropping time and swimming well.” The Titan girls swim team took second place at the 4A state tournament last year, with the boys’ team finishing in 11^th place out of 22 teams.

The team has been swimming in competition since October, and enjoyed a three-week moratorium ending Jan. 6, in which no organized team practices, instruction or competition can take place. While the rest is welcome to athletes recovering from injuries, swimmers run the risk of suffering from inactivity.

“We just need to get through the moratorium,” Goffe said. “It could hurt us if the kids don’t do anything [on their own] the whole time. But if they do something active every day, then they should do okay.”

“We have three more dual meets,” Goffe said [before the winter break], “and then region. We’ll be going up against some good teams, including Skyline at the end. That will give us a chance to see where they’re at.”

Olympus will face Woods Cross and Logan Jan. 6 at the South Davis Recreation Center, will travel to Herriman Jan. 11 and Skyline Jan. 17 before competing in the Region Championship Jan. 25 at the South Davis rec center. The 4A state championship meet will be Feb. 3-4 at BYU.