Baldessari wins silver

Sisters sophomore Brittany Baldessari won silver with her performance in the 100-yard backstroke during District Championships in Albany February 10 and 11.

Baldessari clocked a season best of 1:06.5 in an outstanding swim, but was barely out-touched by North Marion’s junior Jessica Garinger. Baldessari also earned a fourth place in the 50-yard freestyle sprint in one of the closest final heats during the championships.

Sweet Home’s Jessica Trautwein won the event, followed by Philomath’s senior Megan Cornelius and North Marion’s senior Alyssa Nelson.

The girls freestyle relay team qualified for championship finals as well and finished in sixth place. Jessie Swaner led with an explosive start, followed with strong segments by Camille Pedersen, Aria Garau and anchor Brittany Baldessari.

Both girls and boys medley relay teams finished 2nd in consolation finals. Baldessari led the girls in the backstroke, followed by Jessie Swaner in the breast, Cammie Patterson in the butterfly and Camille Pedersen as anchor in the freestyle.

On the boys’ side, Tyler Young started with a good backstroke segment, freshman Drew Herron followed with a strong 39.4-second breaststroke, Clifton Williams in the butterfly and Steven Waltosz anchored with a time of 28.4.

Other consolation finalists included the boys’ freestyle relay (5th), Tyler Young in butterfly (4th) and backstroke (5th) and Jessie Swaner (6th) in the breaststroke.