Rogers High
Rogers High didn't have any swimmers post state qualifying times at a meet at Bryant this week but coach Rob Bray continues to see improvement from the Mounties and Lady Mounties.
"We had a lot of individuals swim their best times," Bray said. "We are swimming better, and we are getting closer."
Lisa Lauschke has already qualified for the state meet in four events and the junior is close to qualifying in a fifth event.
"Lisa Lauschke is swimming great for us," Bray said. "She is going to try and do well in the 500 next week."
Bray also said that divers Joy Phillips and Hunter Brunson also continue to improve. Phillips, a freshman, may be the first female diver in school history.
"The divers are doing good, and they are hanging in there and getting better," Bray said. "We have been practicing down at Arkansas a few days a week with the UA diving coach. I'm not aware that we have had another women diver. She is making strides and she is figuring it out. It is neat that she is diving for us."
-- Paul Nielsen @NWAPaul
Rogers Heritage
Rogers Heritage coach Julie Sakalares came away pleased with her team's overall performances at Bryant on Thursday, but specifically noted the good work of seniors Peter Kim and Tina Nguyen.
Nguyen topped the state-qualifying standard in the 100-yard breaststroke and finished third in the event. She was also fifth in the 100 backstroke. Nguyen was part of the 2000-yard medley relay team, which finished third, along with the 400 freestyle relay, which was also third.
"She saw real well and Tina's close to getting her cut in the 100 backstroke, too," Sakalares said. "Peter Kim had a very good meet. He's gotten a lot faster. He was only a couple tenths of a second off his cut in the 50 freestyle and he's close in the 100 free, too.
"The meet right after the break didn't go very well, but this one was great. All the kid swam well. I think it's a good indication of how the rest of the season will go."
Both the Heritage boys and girls teams finished fourth in the 13-team meet.
Kim finished fifth in both the 50 and 100 freestyle. He was also part of the 200 medley relay team, which finished third, and the 400 freestyle relay, which was fourth. Ian Pusey was also second in the 100 breaststroke and fourth in the 200 intermediate medley.
Carly Holland also took third in the 100 butterfly.
-- Paul Boyd @NWAPaulB
Springdale Har-Ber
Ryan Reed has come a long ways since his days as a cheerleader at Springdale Har-Ber.
Reed finished third in diving at the state meet last spring and he'll continue his career in college when he signs with the University of Denver in February. Reed was a cheerleader at Har-Ber who entertained fans with cartwheels as a sophomore and junior. He's not cheerleading this year to focus on diving.
"I had Ryan in class during his sophomore year and asked him if he would be interested in diving," Har-Ber coach Samantha Couch said. "He said yes and began diving at the end of his sophomore year. He is a hard worker with a positive attitude. He is aiming to place in the top three again at state this year."
The Har-Ber swim team will be back in action Friday at Conway before participating in the Bentonville Invitational at the Jones Center in Springdale on Jan. 29.
-- Rick Fires • @NWARick
Fayetteville
The early portion of the schedule produced strong results and several state-qualifying results for the Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs. But as Fayetteville works closer to state tournament time in the pool, there's still work to be done.
The Lady Bulldogs placed third in each of their first two meets this season -- at the Siloam Springs Invitational and Springdale High Invitational -- and finished fourth at their own Fayetteville meet. Through three meets, the girls as a team qualified for state in the 200-yard IM (Lia Rubinelli), the 50-yard free (Morgan Martin), the 100 breaststroke (Abby Pickhardt) and in both the 200-yard medley relay and the 200-yard freestyle relay.
The Bulldogs have placed runner-up at three meets this season. Senior Matt Parisi and sophomore Sam Schach lead the way so far. Parisi has qualified for state in the 100-yard butterfly (59.01) and the 100 free (53.28). Schach is a state qualifier in the 200 free (1:57.79) and the 100 breaststroke (1:05.10). Fayetteville also qualified in the 200-yard medley relay on Dec. 3 at the Fayetteville Invitiational.
The Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs are back in action Saturday at the Conway Invitational.
-- Vernon Tarver • @NWAVernon
Sports on 01/18/2015