What an incredible weekend for George Ranch Swimming and Diving! GRHS competed in the two-day prelims and finals Regional 7 swim meet. Prelims are used to determine the top 8 swimmers in each event, and those 8 swimmers and relays compete for the Regional championship and an automatic birth in the 5A state championship. Of our 38 swims and 2 divers, we put 36 swims and 2 divers into the top 8!! We had two swimmers win events and get automatic bids to the state championship. Shelby Sparacino won the 200 freestyle in 1:54.90, dropping 5 seconds from her prelims time!! David Kvitna also qualified by winning the 200 IM and setting a new school record of 201.26 and dropping 8 seconds from his Friday prelims time! We also had 3 more individual athletes get a State meet birth based on their times in finals: Shelby Sparacino 1:00.11 and Blake Grote 52.20 (new school record) qualified in the 100 backstroke, and David Kvitna 100.77 (school record) in the 100 breaststroke! Also, for the first time in school history, we are taking both boys’ and girls’ relays to the same state meet! The relay team of Shelby Sparacino, Kate Hartman, Charlotte Johanson, and Riley Murray advance in the 200 freestyle with a school record of 139.71! Emily DeRouen, Charlotte Johanson, Riley Murray, and Shelby Sparacino advance in the 400 freestyle relay with a school record of 344.25. On the boys’ side, all 3 relays will advance to the state meet! Blake Grote, David Kvitina, Evan Murray and Robbie Valdez advance in the 200 freestyle and 200 medley relays! Andrew Greene, Camp Priest, Evan Murray and Robbie Valdez advance in the 400 freestyle relay with a school record of 3.18.17! Aaron O’Reilly, Kyle Krush, Mark Kvitina, and Carly Thome all helped contribute to the relays during prelims, and allowed for fresh legs for Saturday’s relays! We also broke 3 more school records this weekend that just missed getting called up to swim at state. Riley Murray went 24.75 in the 50 freestyle and 54.2 in the 100 freestyle breaking her own records she set just 24 hours earlier. Blake Grote broke the 100 fly record with a 54.50! It’s very clear that Coach Baker’s work in the weight room has paid off! We will be selling state bound shirts this week. See Coach Zerber in room 2438 to order; orders due end of day on Tuesday!