Pioneers get final look at pool
By Steve Behr
sports@wataugademocrat.com

VALDESE — Watauga swimming coach David Gragg knows that the Pioneers must swim at Valdese Aquatic Center in the Northwestern 4-A Conference meet next week. So, Gragg scheduled a final tune-up meet for the Pioneers against nearby East Burke at the VAC looking to get his swimmers acclimated to the pool.

The tune-up did not equate to a team victory for either the boys’ or girls’ teams. East Burke won the boys’ meet 95-75 and the girls’ meet 92-78.

But overall victory was not necessarily the top goal Wednesday night. Instead, getting used to the environment one final time was just as important.

“I think, for the most part, we did really well tonight,” Gragg said. “Especially for the guys, I really didn’t want to show a whole lot. I didn’t want them to know where my guys were going to swim.”

Just because the Pioneers did not win the team meet, it did not mean that individuals did not win races.

William Rayner continued his success by capturing a first place finish in the 200-yard individual medley and a first in the 100 backstroke. Rayner finished with a time of 2:09.46 in the individual medley and a 58.86 in the backstroke. He was the only swimmer to finish under a minute in that event.

“He’s really put the time in and the commitment,” Gragg said of Rayner. “I think coaches are going to take notice of him at the conference meet.”

Minori Ohashi claimed first place in the 200 freestyle (1:57.84) and second in the 100 butterfly (59.43).

Jonathan Edwards added a victory in the 500 freestyle (5:34.90) and a second in the 50 freestyle (24.93).

Konrad Kosmala was third in the backstroke and Trevon Jensen was second in the breaststroke.

Watauga’s 400 freestyle relay team of Edwards, Konrad Kosmala, Ohashi and Rayner captured first place with a time of 3:37.01. Watauga’s 200 relay team of Cameron Owens, Jenson, William Tsang and Alden Mast was second with a 1:52.65, and the Pioneers’ 200 medley relay team of Edwards, Rayner, Ohashi and Kosmala took second with a 1:50.64.

Ingrid Forsyth picked up a victory in the 200 freestyle (2:13.16) and a second-place finish in the 500 freestyle (6:37.16). Another Pioneer, Elizabeth Brewer, also won a race. Brewer won the 100 backstroke with a 1:14.54 and was fourth, behind third-place Crystal Tsang, in the individual medley.

Aidan Berry led a 2-3-4 finish in the 100 breaststroke. Kelsey Cole was third and Carrie Winkler was fourth in the event, while East Burke’s Lauren Wallrichs won the race.

Watauga’s individual medley relay team of Brewer, Forsyth, Tsang and Mallie Billing took second, as did the Pioneers’ 200 freestyle relay team of Winkler, Laiken Williams, Emily Baker and Cole. Watauga’s 400 freestyle relay team of Tsang, Forsyth, Brewer and Billing was also second.

“I wanted them to get a feel of the pool because we’ll be here next Saturday,” Gragg said.