BOYS SWIM AND DIVE: Bonney Lake's slim nonleague win over Steilacoom is season’s first

In a Dec. 15 dual meet in Lakewood, the Bonney Lake High boys swim team posted its first win of the season with a one-point, 92-91, nonleague win over Class 2A Steilacoom.

The Panthers took first in four events against the Sentinels.

The 200-yard medley relay team composed of Cody Steiert, Zach Pettit, Jake Gould and Eben Sarver, took first place in 2 minutes, 5.77 seconds – their best time of the season.

Sarver won the 50 freestyle in 25.85 and Steiert took first in the 500 freestyle in 6:00.74 – his best time this season.

Tim Eckhart won the diving competition with 124.35 points, while Eric Smith took third in his first varsity competition.

“The meet was very close with six different lead changes,” coach Jay Paulson said. “We were missing a couple of varsity guys so winning came down to new guys stepping up into events they weren’t entirely comfortable swimming.”

Also, against the Sentinels, Steiert and Gould took second and third, respectively, in the 200 freestyle; Pettit was second in the 50 freestyle; Sarver and Brian Duckett was second and third, respectively, in the 100 freestyle; Tanner McMurtray, Steven Brown and Bennett Snider placed second, third, and fourth, respectively, in the 100 backstroke; and Brandon Winchell, Sam Davidson and Josiah Hartom were 2-3-4, respectively, in the 100 breaststroke.

In that same meet, Lakes defeated the Panthers 139-47 in South Puget Sound League 3A competition.

Despite the loss, some of the Panther swimmers posted their season-best times, Paulson said.

“Some of the guys are starting to make connections between what we are asking of them in practice and how it helps in the meet,” Paulson said. “They are starting to see how some swimmers are so fast in the water – it is making them see their own possibilities and potential.”

Steiert and Gould finished second and third in the 200 freestyle; Sarver and Pettit finished second and third in the 50 freestyle; Gould and Sarver was third and fourth in the 100 freestyle, while Steiert took second in the 500 freestyle – 13 seconds off his earlier time.

Eckhart was second in diving, while Smith took fifth.

The 400 freestyle relay team of Gould, Pettit, Sarver and Steiert took second with the team’s best time this season.

The boys return to action at 3:30 p.m. Jan. 7 at home against Peninsula in SPSL 3A action.