BOYS SWIM NOTES - JANUARY 31, 2010

Here are the 2009-2010 Columbia Basin Big Nine boys swimming standings as of Sunday, Jan. 31, 2010:

Richland 8-0
Wenatchee 7-1
Eastmont 6-2
Hanford 5-3
Moses Lake 4-4
Walla Walla 3-5
Davis 2-6
West Valley 1-7
Eisenhower 0-8

Results - Saturday, Jan. 30
At Moses Lake
Richland 117, Moses Lake 69; Hanford 98, Moses Lake 88
Lions Pool, Yakima
Team score"€"Walla Walla 98, West Valley 85

BOYS SWIM NOTES - JANUARY 21, 2010

It's business as usual for the Richland (5-0) and Hanford

(3-2) swimmers as the season reaches its halfway mark -- meaning the Bombers and the Falcons are staying the course with focus and energy.

"The kids are working extremely hard," said Hanford/Richland coach Kathy Piper. "Most of them are where I expected them to be."

She has been especially impressed by the performance of her dive teams -- sophomore B.J. Deatherage, junior Stephen Grindel and senior Kyle Cornwell at Hanford, and junior Nikhil Malhan and sophomores Corey Morris and Brian Blowe at Richland.

She expects to see state-qualifying scores earned over the next two weeks -- at 11-dive meets this Friday at Moses Lake and Jan. 29 at Central Washington University.

"I think our boys are doing really, really well," diving coach Melissa Stommel said, noting that the six divers have integrated a weekly trip to Lions Pool in Yakima with their dryland practices in order to sharpen their skills

Stommel, who stepped up this year as boys diving coach and has served the past three seasons as diving coach for the girls, is confident that Deatherage and Grindel will make return appearances at the state finals.

Next Friday's CWU meet will also double as District 5 diving finals for the CBBN 3A teams, as Propstra Aquatic Center in Vancouver, the site of the 3A regionals, does not have a diving board.

Class 4A districts will be held

Feb. 5-6 at CWU, with the state meet slated for Feb. 18-20 at King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.

And among Hanford seniors expected to make a return appearance at state is Robbie Pfaff, whose post-grad plans include swimming for the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn.

Pfaff was the second man on the Falcons' 400 free relay that placed 10th at state (3:23.85) last year.

"He's been the anchor in a lot of relays," Piper said. "I can swim Robbie anywhere. He's versatile and solid at all the strokes."

w Prosser coach Rhonda Baker said that sophomore Nolan Saam has proven himself a talented resource for the Mustangs.

"Nolan's not a year-round (swimmer), but he swims six, seven thousand yards per practice," Baker said.

And it has paid off, as Saam achieved a 2A state-qualifying time in the 100 breaststroke (1:08.66) on Jan. 9 at the Kentridge Invite.

Baker also noted that senior Branden Hobbick (100 fly) and sophomore James Wildman (50 free) are knocking on the door of their respective state times.

BOYS SWIM NOTES - JANUARY 14, 2010

Here are the 2009-2010 Columbia Basin Big Nine boys swimming standings as of Thursday, Jan. 14, 2010.

Wenatchee 4-0
Hanford 3-0
Richland 3-0
Eastmont 1-0
Moses Lake 1-1
Davis 1-3
Walla Walla 0-2
West Valley 0-3
Eisenhower 0-4

BOYS SWIM NOTES - JANUARY 7, 2010

Richland/Hanford coach Kathy Piper is optimistic that her teams can wrangle up some more state-qualifying times this weekend when the Bombers and Falcons travel to Yakima's Lions Pool on Saturday for a 10 a.m. double dual meet with Eisenhower and Davis.

"They've got some good swimmers," Piper said of the Cadets and the Pirates. "They just don't have the depth we do."

Piper said that Hanford senior Danny Tixier and Richland junior Tyler Pickett are aiming to pick up SQs in the 100-yard breaststroke.

Richland is also betting on senior Eric Blanchard and freshman Andrew Blanchard to grab SQs in the 100 butterfly.

And the meet will also mark the season debut of Piper's diving squads, with sophomore B.J. Deatherage, junior Stephen Grindel and senior Kyle Cornwell for the Falcons and sophomores Corey Morris and Brian Blowe joining junior Nikhil Malhan on the board for the Bombers.

"The divers we haven't seen dive yet," Piper said. "Saturday will be our first look."

Hanford and Richland were originally scheduled to appear at the Kentridge Invite on Saturday.

-- Hanford/Richland will host Eastmont on Jan. 14 -- in Moses Lake, as the Chiefs travel to Walla Walla.

"Since we have no facility here, we have to travel to Moses Lake and pay to use their facility," Piper said, estimating that it will consume approximately $250 of the teams' budget for the rental.

Last season, the weight of budgetary concerns for Hanford and Richland was mitigated by the Duel in the Pool fundraiser -- an exhibition event that will not be held this season due to time constraints in the swimming schedule.

"(We have) one small break and it's kind of in our best interest to give a day off," she said.

Piper said that it is possible that the event may return in the fall as a joint venture with the girls teams.

BOYS SWIM NOTES - FEBRUARY 20, 2009

Wertz and Roberts Heads and Shoulders Above the Rest

Joe Wertz of Hanford and Cody Roberts of Richland were each selected as CBBN Swimmers of the Year -- Wertz in the 3A division for the third year in a row, and Roberts clinched the 4A nod solo for the first time, having shared the honor in 2008 with Forrest Crain of Wenatchee.

"It's very well deserved," said Kathy Piper, who coaches both teams, of the seniors' accomplishment. "There are some awesome swimmers in the league but really, to be honest, Cody and Joe are head and shoulders above the rest."

Roberts, who signed with the University of Washington before the season, comes into this weekend's state meet in Federal Way as the defending state champion in the 100-yard butterfly and runner-up in the 100 back.

He has the state's top 4A time in the fly by more than 2 seconds, but he's more pumped about Richland's state chances in the 400 freestyle relay, an event he anchors for team members Nathaniel Weinman, Tyler Pickett and Eric Blanchard, an event in which the Bombers placed fourth a year ago.

"This year we have a shot to win it, and we really want to get that All-American time in the relay," Roberts said. "We've come so far ... It's everybody's contribution. It's not a one-man thing."

Piper is confident but cautious.

"It's up for grabs," she said. "They have the potential to possibly win the 200 medley and 400 free relays. We'll just have to see who has what left at the end of the meet. It's a long weekend, but the kids are fired up and ready for it."

For his part, Wertz (a Seattle University signee) is hoping to break 52 seconds in the 100 back for the Falcons -- 53.08 was his district time. But he isn't placing any bets on the 200 IM, in which his season-best time of 1:58.02 from districts is still almost 4 seconds behind state leader Alexander Hoff of Mercer Island.

"I am super nervous for the 200 IM," said Wertz, who placed fourth at state in both events a year ago. "The guys I'm racing are super talented and have crazy-fast times. I want to keep up with them ... it's gonna be fun."

But Roberts was more positive about his fellow Channel Cat's chances and said, "He has a very good chance to place high, if not win."

And with the capstone to their high school swimming careers just days away, neither Roberts nor Wertz hesitated when asked to recall their fondest memory of their favored sport.

"When we took third at state overall (last year) after taking 12th sophomore year," Roberts said, "that was overwhelming. That was an awesome experience. The adrenaline rush kind of hit us at North Bend and we fell asleep afterwards. We had a big-time adrenaline crash."

"Definitely winning districts this year," Wertz said. "With Camas we were up and down, the scores were this way and that way and it came down to the last relay. We were super hyped up and dominated, got the district title and it was perfect."

Piper, who led both the Falcons and the Bombers to their first district titles, was named 3A Coach of the Year, but perhaps the greater honor is the praise she gets from her two standouts.

"The Richland and Hanford teams are basically new to the whole scene," Wertz said. "To have two district (team) champs is quite the accomplishment. She definitely put the effort in to get us that good."

Roberts credited Piper's patience as well as the contributions of assistant coach Randy Willis.

"It's kind of what she's done over the past few years, dealing with a group of guys like us," Roberts said. "We like to goof off a lot, so it was a pretty good accomplishment. ... [Randy] is very good at inspiring us to go beyond what we think we're capable of. He does a pre-meet speech for us, gets us pumped up."

But if Piper has any say, those memories of past -- if relatively recent -- glories could be replaced this weekend.

"We're ready. The boys are fired up and ready to go," she said. "If the meet was tomorrow, look out Federal Way because the boys are ready.

"They're used to swimming five miles or more a day," Piper added. "Like wind-up dolls, they're ready to go."

BOYS SWIM NOTES - FEBRUARY 13, 2009

Seniors Cody Roberts of Richland (4A) and Joe Wertz of Hanford (3A) were named the CBBN Swimmers of the Year.

Moses Lake's Tony St. Onge (4A) and Hanford's Kathy Piper (3A) were named Coaches of the Year.

BOYS SWIM NOTES - JANUARY 30, 2009

Hanford diver B.J. Deatherage earned a berth to the 3A state meet next month -- the school's first-ever for a diver -- with his second-place finish at an 11-dive meet at Central Washington University.

3A CLASSIFICATION -- Trent Miller (West Valley-Yakima) 225.75, B.J. Deatherage (Hanford) 212.45, Stephen Grindel (Han) 209.90.

BOYS SWIM NOTES - JANUARY 15, 2009

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 Falcons 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."

BOYS SWIM NOTES - DECEMBER 18, 2008

Two Tri-City boys swimmers were named consensus High School All-Americans prior to their senior seasons. Hanford's Joe Wertz earned All-America honors in the 100-yard backstroke and 200 individual medley, while Richland's Cody Roberts was honored in the 100 butterfly and 100 back. Roberts recently signed a letter of intent with the University of Washington.

Here are the Columbia Basin Big Nine boys swimming standings as of December 18, 2008:

Hanford 2-0
Richland 2-0
Moses Lake 1-0
Eastmont 1-1
Wenatchee 1-1
Walla Walla 0-0
West Valley 0-1
Eisenhower 0-2
Davis 0-2

BOYS SWIM NOTES - DECEMBER 17, 2008

Joe Wertz of Hanford turned in state-qualifying time while helping his squads record a pair of victories over Davis and Eisenhower in a swimming meet at Lions Pool in Yakima.

BOYS SWIM NOTES - DECEMBER 14, 2008

Joe Wertz of Hanford qualified for state in the 100 backstroke, 100 breaststroke and 200 IM, and recorded the top combined time in five events at the Walla Walla Pentathlon at Whitman College.

Wertz completed the five events in 5 minutes, 44.01 seconds to beat the next placer -- Prosser's Tyler Burgett -- by over 15 seconds.