Badger swimmers gear up for districts

COEUR d’ALENE — Bonners Ferry High School swimmers Julia Cummings and Seamus Newcomb competed in the Oct. 5 and the Oct. 13 swim meets at the Kroc Center as they prepare for districts.

“I am over the moon excited about today’s meet,” coach Greg Jackson said to all the team members in an email after the Oct. 13 meet. “We have been working very hard, and the swimmers were far from rested today. Their performances, in my opinion, defied the odds.”

At the Oct. 5 meet, Cummings placed second out of nine finishers in the girls 200-yard freestyle with a time of 2:09.99, and second out of eight finishers in the girls 100-yard backstroke (1:05.78).

Newcomb placed fourth out of 10 finishers in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:20.02, and 10th out of 10 finishers in the boys 50-yard freestyle (29.79).

On Oct. 13, Cummings placed second out of 16 finishers in the girls 50-yard freestyle with a time of 26.68, and won the 100-yard backstroke, tops among 10 finishers with a time of 1:06.86.

Newcomb placed third out of 10 finishers in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:18.23, and 14th out of 15 finishers in the boys 50-yard freestyle (29.42).

“Seamus continues to improve and get personal bests from meet to meet,” said Jackson. “He’s putting a lot of hard work into practice, and it is showing in his performances.”

With districts also being the qualifier for state this year, Jackson is looking to second-year Bonners Ferry swim veteran, Cummings, to take her maximum two events.

“Julia continues to be the top 3A swimmer in the district, the top 4A and below backstroker, and one of the top three performers in the sprint freestyle and backstroke across all classifications,” said Jackson.

The next swim meet will be Districts on Saturday, Oct. 27.