During the same weekend as D1 Valley Championships, we had at least 24 past and current TNT swimmers competing at the D2 Valley Championships. Among the group are two current TNT swimmers who became event champions in both individual events entered. Sophomore Nathan Rhea of Tulare Western went under the minute mark in the 100 breaststroke (59.86) in the preliminary heats to break Derek Ogata’s meet record. Nathan won the event with a 1:00.03. His second win came in the 200 IM (1:57.61 in finals and 1:57.37 in prelims). Our other dual Valley champion was freshman Chris Nolan from Corcoran winning both the 100 fly (54.02) and 500 free (4:54.12) events.
Additional event champions included Bre Abell of Kingsburg who won the 100 back (1:03.42) and finished 5th in the 50 free (25.83) along with Hannah Giles of Hanford High who took home the win in the 200 IM (2:20.97) and finished 2nd in the 100 breast (1:11.08). Josh Tabers of Hanford West was the Valley Champion in the 100 back (55.19) and swam to a 6th place finish in the 200 IM (2:08.48).
Championship finalists also included Trevor DeLeeuw of Tulare Union who swam 5:27.83 in the 500 free for a 7th place finish, and also finished 11th in the 200 free (1:58.64). Teammate Chris Ewins had a 5th place finish in the 100 fly (56.43), and also finished 16th in the 200 IM (2:15.93). Exeter swimmer Haley Hopper had two 2nd place finishes in both the 200 IM (2:22.54) and 100 back (1:04.92). Haley’s teammate Hunter King finished 4th in the 100 fly (55.72) and 9th in the 100 back (59.52). Josh Koster of CVC finished 5th in the 500 free (5:16.26) during his first year, and also finished 13th in his 100 back (1:01.78). Alexis Ledesma of Selma High finished 8th in the 100 fly (1:09.13 in finals and 1:07.12 in prelims), and also finished 10th in the 100 back (1:10.32). Emily Lehrman of Immanuel finished 6th in the 500 free (5:53.44 in finals and 5:42.73 in prelims) and 7th in the 200 IM (2:26.79). Freshman Tulare Union swimmer Conor Martin swam to a 2nd place finish in the 200 free (1:49.82) and 8th place finish in the 100 (51.43) while Immanuel swimmer Cody Nash finished 6th in the 500 free (5:22.27 in finals and 5:13.36 in prelims), along with a 15th place finish in the 200 IM (2:14.88). Sister Stephanie Nash swam to a 3rd place finish in the 100 free (57.80). An additional final top-8 finisher was Tulare Union swimmer Allison Ross who doubled up with a 3rd place finish in the 200 IM (2:23.74) and 7th place finish in the 100 fly (1:07.88). New arrival to TNT, Christian Watts of Exeter finished 2nd in the 50 free (22.15) and 3rd in the 100 breast (1:03.42) while his teammate Jonathan Castillo finished 6th in the 50 free (22.80) and 7th in the 100 free (50.68).
Consolation finalists included Madison Elick of Tulare Union (200 IM 11th – 2:32.42 and 100 breast 12th – 1:18.13), teammate Madison Gilbert (100 fly 15th – 1:10.73 and 100 back 15th – 1:12.09). Erika Frees of Exeter finished 9th in the 100 fly (1:06.27) and 17th in the 500 free (6:10.32) while her teammate Sarah Peltzer finished 9th in the 500 free (5:54.19) and 21st in the 200 free (2:16.95). Taylor Goates also of Exeter finished 13th in the 50 free with a 27.06. Anna Lehrman of Immanuel swam to a 9th place finish in the 100 breast (1:16.27) and also competed in the 200 free (2:23.49). Chris Torres of CVC finished 13th in the 50 free (23.53) and 14th in the 100 free (52.48).
Our additional D2 Valley qualifiers and their highest place finish included: Tristian Abell of Kingsburg (28th in the 100 back – 1:15.50), Luke Gregory of Corcoran (25th in the 100 back – 1:04.46), Brittany Hopkins of Tulare Union (19th in the 100 fly – 1:12.69), and Nick Orton of Tulare Union (17th in the 200 IM – 2:15.37).
Congratulations to all for qualifying, and on their impressive performances.