RICHLAND -- The Richland and Hanford boys swimming teams will play host to the Duel in the Pool fund-raiser at 4 p.m. Saturday at Columbia Basin Racquet Club, and according to coach Kathy Piper it won't be a run-of-the-mill event.
"The first race is a Hanford teachers against Richland teachers relay," Piper said, adding that she has not received a full list of participants and does not know whether they will enjoy a practice or two before Saturday's event.
"My guess would be no, they're not studying ahead," Piper joked.
"They're going to cram at the last minute like most kids."
Also on tap will be a synchronized swimming demonstration by the seniors.
"It's mainly geared for a fund-raiser and having the kids' friends come," Piper said. "It's not like we have a big rooter bus -- the parents come, mind you -- but the kids like to see their friends."
Cost is $5 for adults and $2 for students with ASB cards and free for children. Proceeds will be applied to hotel expenses incurred during the teams' Jan. 10 trip to the Kentridge Invite.
But it was an appearance that was worthwhile for the teams, as the Bombers took fourth place and the Falcons earned a 12th-place finish.
Eric Blanchard (1:48.75) and Nathaniel Weinman (1:49.14) also earned state qualifying times in the 200-yard freestyle for Richland at the invite, and Tyler Pickett (2:02.77) came away with an state time in the 200 IM.
-- The inclusion of divers has made an appreciable difference this season to the Richland and Bombers teams.
"We're getting diving points where, historically, we just had 13 points that we gave away because we didn't have any divers," Piper said.
Jeff Young bounces off the board for the Bombers; B.J. Deatherage, Austin Hamilton, Stephen Grindel and Kyle Cornwell dive for the Falcons.
Deatherage, whom Piper describes as a "really talented freshman diver," finished 15th at Kentridge. Hamilton, a senior, found the diving board to be the cure for a lack of experience in the lanes.
"He has done just awesome and he's diving extremely well," Piper said.
The only roadblock for the boys has been the lack of an actual diving board at the CBRC practice pool.
"They do dry land here at the racquet club and Garland's Gym, and they're traveling to Yakima once a week to Lions Pool to use the diving board."
Deatherage's mother, Barbara, volunteers her time to assist the divers in their routines, and even the Davis diving squad has even stepped up. "The Davis divers have been really great about helping them along and giving pointers," Piper said. "Really good sporstmanship from those guys."
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Hanford, Richland divers left out of today's finale
Hanford, Richland divers left out of today's finale
WALLA WALLA -- In tight swimming meets, it can be diving that makes the difference.
But when one team has diving and the other doesn't, it can make for quite the conundrum.
In their CBBN 4A-3A regular-season finale today, Hanford (7-0) and Richland (6-1) will head to Walla Walla (6-0), but diving will be crossed off the event lineup because Walla Walla's home pool at Whitman College lacks a board. As a result, the Blue Devils don't have any divers on their squad.
Local swimmers set for Kentridge Invite
Local swimmers set for Kentridge Invite
FEDERAL WAY -- The Kentridge Invitational in Federal Way draws boys swimming talent from all over Washington, as well from other states.
Omaha Creighton Prep, which won the meet in 2008, will be one of the more than 30 teams to compete today at the King County Aquatic Center.
"They've got pretty much the top seed in most of the events, but they wanted to come and swim in this pool," said Richland/Hanford coach Kathy Piper.
Richland swimmer Connors leads Bombers by example
Richland swimmer Connors leads Bombers by example
After three years of competing with -- and against -- some of the best swimmers to come through the Richland program, Nick Connors has reached the head of the class.
With that role comes responsibility, and the senior co-captain, who helped the Bombers finish third at state last season, has a few goals in mind for his teammates.
"I want us to be at the pool, work hard and have fun," he said.
Top swimmers prep for Mukilteo Invite
Top swimmers prep for Mukilteo Invite
The King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way will provide an early taste of state-caliber swimming during Saturday's Mukilteo Invite.
The Mid-Columbia will have plenty of representatives in the Olympic-sized pool. Richland, Moses Lake, Walla Walla, Hanford, Kennewick, Kamiakin, Southridge, Sunnyside and Prosser are bringing swimmers to the Mukilteo Invite, held at the same facility as the WIAA state championships in November.
"We wanted to give our girls some good outside competition to prove their times and swim indoors," said Richland/Hanford coach Kathy Piper, who
estimated 25 teams would participate.
Divers kick off district competition today
Divers kick off district competition today
District swimming and diving action begins today when the divers take to the board for preliminaries at Moses Lake.
The swimming competition is scheduled for Friday and Saturday in Ellensburg.
Among the heavy favorites in diving are Moses Lake senior Sammy Hendrickson in 4A and Southridge sophomore Danielle Freund in 3A. Freund qualified for state with an 11-dive total of 315.40 on Sept. 23 in Kennewick, while Hendrickson got her mark Oct. 7 with a 327.55 in Moses Lake.
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