Seven swimmers to compete in regionals this weekend

After a season of cancelled meets and broken pools the Aqua Tribe still managed to break two school records on its way to regional competition today and tomorrow in Andrews.

The 200-yard freestyle relay team of junior Arin Hindman, freshman Faith Klassen, senior Kourtney Kildow and senior Judy Thiessen broke the school record it had been chasing for over a year at the district meet in Lubbock on Jan. 25. After trying to beat the 2008 record for so long, relay members found it hard to describe the feat.

“It’s hard to put the feeling into words,” Hindman said. “I had so many emotions at the same time.”

The relay team finished in a time of 1:57.21 which beat the old record by .28 of a second.

Klassen, the newest member of the team, felt a comraderie with her older mentors.

“The feeling was amazing,” Klassen said. “It felt so good to be there and feel united with my teammates.”

Klassen was added to the team when sophomore Sunny Woodward transferred to another school.

“It was unbelievable especially after losing Sunny,” Thiessen said. “ Faith really did well and helped us pick up right where we left off.”

Klassen knew what it meant to the older members.

“It was great to break it on Judy’s and Kourtney’s last district meet,” Klassen said. “I felt so special getting to be a part of it.”

In addition, Thiessen broke a 30-year old school school record in the 50-yard freestyle by .09 of a second.

“I couldn’t believe that it happened,” Theissen said. “I was ecstatic.”

Theissen broke the record that had been set in 1983.

“I worked every day in practice,” Theissen said. “I made sure I got better every day, and it paid off.”

The four swimmers join three other Maidens at the regional meet this weekend after a fifth place finish in the women’s standings at district. Senior Nancy Bergen, junior Tori Phillips and sophomore Madi Werner will join Klassen in the 400-yard freestyle relay. The 200-yard medley relay of Kildow, Thiessen, Hindman and Phillips also qualified. The Indian team took eighth place at district.

Results of District Finals–Jan. 25

Maidens–fifth with 34 points

Individual–200-yard medley relay (Tori Phillips, Kourtney Kildow, Judy Thiessen, Arin Hindman)-fifth (2:13.83) 50-yard freestyle Judy Thiessen-fifth (27.71) 100-yard butterfly Madi Werner-seventh (1:16.65) 100-yard freestyle Judy Thiessen-fifth (1:01.64) 200-yard freestyle relay (Arin Hindman, Kourtney Kildow, Faith Klassen, Judy Thiessen)-fifth (1:57.21) 100-yard breaststroke Kourtney Kildow-eighth (1:25.38) 400-yard freestyle relay (Nancy Bergen, Tori Phillips, Faith Klassen, Madi Werner)-fifth (4:29.54)

Indians–eighth with 8 points

Individual–200-yard freestyle relay (Ramiro Garcia, Antonio Porras, Samuel Letkeman, Gabe Madrid)-seventh (1:49.38) 400-yard freestyle relay (Ramiro Garcia, Antonio Porras, Samuel Letkeman, Gabe Madrid)-seventh (4:11.66)