Lady Outlaws fifth in state swim meet

In a field of 19 girls, 4A, 3A, 2A, 1A high school swimming programs, the Outlaws girls team finished in fifth place (27) behind Marist (52), North Bend (43), Philomath (34) and Cascade (28).

With top three seeds in all relays, the girls could not quite elevate their game enough to hold onto their positions coming into the state championships.

However, in a highly charged 200-yard medley relay finals swim, the Outlaws (2:03.25) managed to move up from fifth place in prelims (2:04.19) to fourth, behind Marist (1:58.47), North Bend (1:59.54) and Philomath (2:02.08). Philomath, who had lost to the Outlaws in districts by 0.23 seconds in this event, came back to show their outstanding skill and will in the water.

LaGrande was fifth (2:03.70) and LaSalle sixth (2:04.00). Cottage Grove, initially seeded fourth, did not make the finals in this event.

Seeded second after prelims (1:48.58), the foursome of Michelle Young, Tia Berg, Katie Stewart and Courteney Satko gave another valiant effort to clinch a state title in the 200-yard freestyle relay. In spite of outstanding splits and an overall new Sisters High School record (1:47.20), Young (26.51), Berg (27.98), Stewart (27.10) and Satko (25.61) could not beat North Bend's time of 1:46.78.

The last relay of the state championships, the 400-yard freestyle relay, almost had the Outlaws on the podium for a silver medal, when Taft's Ali Viles made her move as anchor of the Taft Tigers. Viles' split of 51.20 seconds was four seconds faster than the winning time in the 100-yard freestyle by Marist's Alexis Mollahan (55.85) - good enough to make up a substantial Outlaws lead and catch Satko (56.91) at the touch pad.

Marist won the event (3:53.08), with Taft in second place (3:59.15) and the Outlaws, with Stewart (1:00.20), Young (59.32), Berg (1:03.68) and Satko (56.91) placed third.

Courteney Satko added an additional podium finish to her medal collection when she placed fourth in the 50-yard freestyle event (25.97), barely missing Fe Pledger's Sisters High School record by 0.01 seconds. Philomath's Barry McLaren, who Satko had beaten by 0.41 seconds at Districts, won the event in a time of 25.46, followed by Cottage Grove's Demi Maus (25.63) and Henley's Kristin McBride (25.87).

Thirty-three teams from 4A, 3A, 2A, 1A high schools with a total of 307 active or alternate competitors represented the best of the best in Oregon High School Swimming.