Gamecock swimmers ready for state meet
Saturday, October 11, 2008
By ERIC WINKELMAN
Item Sports Writer
ewinkelman@theitem.com
The Sumter High School swim team is taking 12 swimmers — three more swimmers than last season — to the 4A state meet at the Rock Hill Aquatic Center on Saturday beginning at 11:05 a.m.
Out of those 12 swimmers, Sumter has four girls and one boy that will be swimming in individual events, while the rest will be swimming in relays.
“The kids have worked hard,” said SHS head coach Jennifer Ward. “We’re swimming at a new pool this season, the Sumter Aquatic, which has proven to be a positive impact on on our program. As well, we have a new assistant coach, Matt Bills, who has brought tremendous growth and we have been blessed to have him.”
Doug Morte will be swimming in the boys 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard breaststroke, both of which he’s seeded fifth in for the meet. For the 50 free, Morte’s time was 22.94 seconds, which is 1.50 seconds off the top seed. His best time in the breast is 1 minute, 3.94 seconds, which is 4.91 seconds off the No. 1 seed.
Last season, Morte qualified 11th in the boys 50 freestyle with a time of 23.31, but placed eighth with a time of 23.06.
“We have Doug Morte who’s seeded fifth, so we hope he can jump up to first, second or third place,” said Ward.
Morte will also be swimming in the boys 400-yard freestyle relay with his brother, Derrick, Grayson Salzman and Kiefer Cross. The team is seeded 20th with a time of 3:54.22.
In the girls 500-yard freestyle, Alisha Anderson qualified 20th with a time of 5:48.85 and Kia Kirkhart qualified 30th with a time of 6:03.48.
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Gamecock swimmers ready for state meet