Cody Roberts was already named as 4A State and CBBN 4A Swimmer of the Year, so choosing the Richland senior as the All-Area Swimmer of the Year was a no-brainer for the Tri-City Herald selection committee.
But an auspicious end to the 2009 season wasn't necessarily a guarantee for the Bomber at the start of the season.
"At the very beginning, I started out with a sprained ankle. It wasn't too much fun," Roberts said, adding that coaches Kathy Piper and Randy Willis gave him the time and tools necessary to rehabilitate the muscles in his ankle.
And the gambit paid off for both the Bombers and Roberts.
Roberts was the third man on the 200-yard medley relay team that posted a record finish of 1:41.09 on Feb. 7 in Ellensburg at the 4A districts; and he anchored the 400 freestyle team whose 3:19.87 finish was also a district record.
Roberts also earned the 100 butterfly (50.23) and 100 back (53.51) district titles to fill out his dance card in between the opening and closing relays
Roberts reserved his greatest achievement for the 4A state swimming championships where he replaced the 17-year-old 100 fly record set in 1992 by Ugur Taner of Newport with a 48.14 finish.
Despite the dynamite performance in his individual events -- Roberts also earned the state title in the 100-yard backstroke (50.37) -- it was participation in the relays at state that he counted among the highlights of his high school career.
"I'd really have to say my 100 fly at state," Roberts said when asked to choose a crowning achievement. "But there were so many more. Winning districts, the 400 free, dropping three seconds at state. Too many to really describe."
The Bombers placed third overall at state in the 200 medley (1:39.05) and fourth in the 400 free (3:15.48) relays.
Roberts signed with the University of Washington after the championships, but he isn't afraid to pass the torch as he named Andrew Blanchard (brother of Richland junior Eric Blanchard) as somebody to watch in 2010.
Roberts signing put an end to months of speculation between UW and the United States Air Force Academy.
Similar stories:
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.
State-qualifying swim times heating up
State-qualifying swim times heating up
Looking at the times of Mid-Columbia swimmers less than a week into the season, one might think the girls state championships in Federal Way were just around the corner, not two months away.
At Saturday's Eastern Washington Jamboree in Prosser, Hailey Rankin of the host Mustangs swam the 100-yard butterfly in a state-qualifying time of 1 minute, 2.32 seconds.
That night, more state qualifiers rolled in at the Richland Twilight Jamboree. Hanford senior Melissa Merrill qualified on her own in the 50 freestyle, then helped the Falcons achieve state-qualifying times in the 400 free and 200 medley relays.
Hanford, Richland look for district swim title repeat
Hanford, Richland look for district swim title repeat
Hanford and Richland both won district boys swimming championships last season and will try to do it again this weekend in Ellensburg.
So far, the odds of repeating look pretty strong.
Hanford, which went 8-0 in league, will be one of three CBBN 3A teams competing Friday and Saturday at the Central Washington University Aquatic Center. The Falcons are led by sophomore Will Wertz, seeded first in the 200-yard freestyle and second in the 100 free, which he won last year.
Southridge swimmer Sanchez gets up to speed
Southridge swimmer Sanchez gets up to speed
KENNEWICK -- Southridge High School senior swimmer Alisha Sanchez will compete this weekend in her third consecutive state 50-yard freestyle, but her qualifying time of 25.67 seconds didn't come until district preliminaries.
For a while, Sanchez wasn't sure she would get back to the state swimming and diving championships in Federal Way. She was sidelined the first half of the season after dislocating her shoulder for the third time this year.
"The first time I did it was in the spring," said Sanchez, who will have surgery after state to repair a tear in her rotator cuff. "It was during track. I was lifting weights. I was kind of being stupid."
Hanford's Merrill shines among Twilight swimmers
Hanford's Merrill shines among Twilight swimmers
RICHLAND -- Under the lights at George Prout Pool, several state-qualifying times were recorded during the Richland Twilight Jamboree.
Hanford senior Melissa Merrill clocked in at 25.40 seconds in the 50-yard freestyle. She also competed in the 400 freestyle relay (3 minutes, 43.99 seconds) and 200 medley relay (1:57.90).
Merrill, junior Stephanie Tixier and sophomore Lisa Tixier were on Hanford's 400 free and 200 medley relay teams. They were joined by Mylie Oberg in the 400 free and sophomore Taylor Fievez in the 200 medley.
Print
Email Story
