Outlaws swimmers challenge competition

In their first meet of the season, the Outlaws swimmers competed against some of the top teams in District 3.

Sweet Home hosted a newly configured relay meet for Marist, Jefferson, Stayton, Central and Sisters on November 30 and accommodated the Outlaws with an additional 200-yard freestyle relay event for the unusually large girls team.

The very experienced foursome of Brittany Baldessari, Chelsea Flanders, Tia Berg and Felicia Pledger opened the meet with explosive individual races and a visibly even finish with Marist. Only the final time averages showed the Outlaws 0.09 seconds behind the Spartans. Stayton touched the wall at 2:48.36, almost seven seconds behind the two top teams, and Sweet Home and Central rounded out the group. Jefferson did not participate in the event.

Event 3, the 200-yard backstroke relay, was made up of veterans Jordyn Valdez, Aubrey Cretsinger, Zoey Wavrin and freshman Amanda Norman. Norman swam the second fastest leg behind Wavrin's segment of 34.8. Their combined time of 2:25.05 was good enough for third place.

The first victory for the Outlaws came in the 250-yard medley relay. Baldessari started off with an exceptional 50-yard backstroke leg in 29.9 seconds, followed by Flanders in the 100 yard breaststroke (1:19.8), Tori Carlson in the butterfly and Courtney Satko in the freestyle. Stayton finished in second place, followed by Sweet Home and Central. Marist was disqualified.

The second top finish for the girls came when Camille Pedersen, Kathleen Greaney, Hillary Johnson and Tia Berg swam outstanding 50-yard breaststroke legs and finished in second place behind Marist. Sweet Home attacked the Outlaws from the start but could not catch up with this experienced squad. Freshman Berg swam the fastest leg in 39.2 seconds and will be a challenge to breaststrokers and butterflyers in the district.

"The Outlaws will certainly be contenders for top placements during district and state championships," Coach Isolde Hedemark commented.

They finished up the meet with another victory over the rest of the competition in the 400-yard freestyle relay. Brittany Baldessari swam a strong 1:01.4, Berg 1:07.9, Pedersen 1:11.4, and anchor Pledger brought the relay home with an impressive 59.7.

The boys were not as lucky in their attempts to show the competition what they can accomplish. Brian Greaney started the 250-yard medley relay with a very strong 100-yard backstroke leg to give Drew Herron a good lead for his 50-yard breaststroke segment. Holden Sellentin followed with an outstanding 50-yard butterfly, and Justin Duvenick anchored the relay with a best time in the 50-yard freestyle. The Outlaws out touched Marist but were later disqualified for an early take-off violation.

The boys did not compete in the 200-yard backstroke relay but finished second behind Sweet Home in the second 250-yard medley relay. Allan Schaad pushed off the wall in the backstroke, chased by Herron in the 100-yard breaststroke, Duvenick in the 50-yard butterfly and anchor Sellentin in the 50-yard freestyle. Sellentin broke the 26-second mark for a personal best.

First year swimmers Parker Bennett, Seth Flanders, Bryant Lasken and Joey Schlatter showed great promise in their 50-yard freestyle sprints with Lasken being the fastest of the freshmen boys.

The Outlaws boys were disqualified for another early take-off in the last event of the meet.

The swimmers will be traveling back to Sweet Home on December 14 for a regulation meet against Philomath, Stayton, Blanchett and Central.