Bingham Swimmers Finding Success In The Pool
Jan 30, 2015 01:19PM ● By Catherine Garrett
Bingham High senior Calvin Smith is among the top three swimmers in the state in the 100-meter backstroke and is one of the favorites to take the title at the 5A state championship Feb. 12-13 at Brigham Young University.
The Bingham High girls swimming team has won seven of its 10 meets this season as the squad prepares for the 5A state championships where it placed fifth a year ago. The boys – who placed seventh at last year’s state meet – have taken first in five of those meets.
“Both teams are doing great,” said head coach Andee Bouwhuis, who is in her 15th season. “We are getting stronger and faster with each meet.”
At the Bingham Invitational Nov. 21-22, the girls won while the boys’ squad placed fourth. The girls’ team defeated Riverton Dec. 2 while the boys took second. At West Jordan Dec. 11 and Copper Hills Dec. 18, both squads came out on top.
The girls placed second at the Park City Invitational Dec. 13 with the boys coming in fourth. At the Judge Invitational Dec. 19-20 and the Riverton Invitational Jan. 2-3, the girls again took second places while the boys finished fifth in both meets.
Bingham has been led by senior captain Calvin Smith who placed first in the 100-meter backstroke at the Bingham Invite in the first meet of the year and hasn’t looked back. For a few weeks, he held the top ranking in the state in the event and set a personal best – dropping nearly a second off his previous top time – at the Judge Invite.
“We’ve done really well,” Smith said. “Everybody’s stepped up and swam to the best of their abilities.”
Smith has been swimming for the past seven years when he decided he needed something to do and realized he always liked being in the water.
“I’ve slowly and steadily gotten better over the years, and it’s really given me a good work ethic,” he said.
The senior has qualified for state every year in two events – the 500- freestyle and the 100- back – and hopes to come out on top in the backstroke.
“I’m currently seeded third, but we’re all really close in times so it’s really anybody’s game,” he said. “I’m just focusing on the mental preparation and other details of my race and then simply swimming fast.”
Also leading the way for Bingham this year are senior captains Cody Smith, Sarah Smith and McKell Fowlks; juniors Grace Kroll, Spencer Kyle, Brittnee Westra; and sophomores Andrew Boswell, Logan England and McCall Kelley.
“This is an amazing team of devoted and enthusiastic athletes this season,” Bouwhuis said. “They are some great kids who really rally around their teammates to provide support and encouragement for every swimmer in every race.”
The Miners competed against Brighton Jan. 22(can you update this on Friday?) yes before the Region 3 championships at the end of January. The 5A state meet is scheduled for Feb. 12-13 at Brigham Young University.
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Others on the Bingham squad this season are seniors Emilee Robinson, Tiffany King and Kyle Goodrich; juniors Whitney Zander, Trevor Wright, Kailen Wightman, Abby Westra, Brittan Warner, Morgan VerHoef, Fabian Valenzuela, Nicole Tonge, Noah Rasmussen, Hannah Myers, Brianna Munoz, Hailey Kennedy, Isabelle Hanson, Zachary Hall, Sarah Davis and Caroline Crane; sophomores Sara Walters, Riley Wade, Ryker Ross, Hannah Roberts, Matt Richins, Joshua Richardson, Kylee Plant, Clara Myers, Preston Lyman, Nicole King, Lauren Kankamp, Cameron Jensen, Lizzie Holmes, Savannah Hodell, Conlee Guy and Mary Dodge; and freshmen Lindsey Young, Vivian Tang, Patrick Taggart, Sawyer Stephens, Landon Stalnaker, Millie Reich, Jordan Powell, Mikelle Palmer, Jenna Hodnett, Machayla Griffiths, Kayla Fowlks, Tyson Evans, Levi Culley, Nathan Cox and Gabriela Anderson.
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Others on the Bingham squad this season are seniors Emilee Robinson, Tiffany King and Kyle Goodrich; juniors Whitney Zander, Trevor Wright, Kailen Wightman, Abby Westra, Brittan Warner, Morgan VerHoef, Fabian Valenzuela, Nicole Tonge, Noah Rasmussen, Hannah Myers, Brianna Munoz, Hailey Kennedy, Isabelle Hanson, Zachary Hall, Sarah Davis and Caroline Crane; sophomores Sara Walters, Riley Wade, Ryker Ross, Hannah Roberts, Matt Richins, Joshua Richardson, Kylee Plant, Clara Myers, Preston Lyman, Nicole King, Lauren Kankamp, Cameron Jensen, Lizzie Holmes, Savannah Hodell, Conlee Guy and Mary Dodge; and freshmen Lindsey Young, Vivian Tang, Patrick Taggart, Sawyer Stephens, Landon Stalnaker, Millie Reich, Jordan Powell, Mikelle Palmer, Jenna Hodnett, Machayla Griffiths, Kayla Fowlks, Tyson Evans, Levi Culley, Nathan Cox and Gabriela Anderson.
