State swimming: Park City wins title; CV’s Wallace gets individual honor

Written by Bob Hudson
February 13, 2016
Final heat of the boys 500-yard freestyle, 3A State Championships, Provo, Utah, Feb. 13, 2016 | Photo by Jeanine Draney, special to St. George News

PROVO – Canyon View’s Nathan Wallace and Park City’s Lucas Hess shared male athlete of the meet honors as Saturday’s Class 3A swimming championships at BYU.

Boys 100 butterfly, 3A State Championships, Provo, Utah, Feb. 13, 2016 | Photo by Jeanine Draney, special to St. George News
Boys 100 butterfly, 3A State Championships, Provo, Utah, Feb. 13, 2016 | Photo by Jeanine Draney, special to St. George News

Wallace won two events and anchored the Falcons to silver medals in two relays. On Saturday he won the 100-yard freestyle in 46.55 seconds with teammate Alan Anderson finishing second in 47.88. They later teamed for a silver medal in the 400-yard freestyle relay. On Friday, Wallace won the 50-yard freestyle and the Falcons got silver in the 200-yard medley relay.

“This is super-exciting,” Wallace said of his award. “It’s been a good four years and it finally paid off.”

Of his 100 win, which narrowly missed a 37-year state record, he said, “I was gunning for it. But I still won and I’m still happy.”

During the interview Anderson told Wallace, “I tried to catch you.”

“I’ve been chasing him all four years,” he added.

Cedar’s Felix Weingartner came to the state meet to have fun. Along the way he won a state championship.

“I’m not all about winning,” Weingartner said. “I try to have fun and drop time. Every time I go to state I feel I gain.”

Cedar’s Katelyn Gross also won a championship, winning the 100-yard butterfly n 57.70 seconds, just off a state record.

Nathan Wallace, 3A State Championships, Provo, Utah, Feb. 13, 2016 | Photo by Jeanine Draney, special to St. George News
Nathan Wallace, 3A State Championships, Provo, Utah, Feb. 13, 2016 | Photo by Jeanine Draney, special to St. George News

“I’m just so happy,” Gross said. “I can’t describe it. I want to break the state record next year. I dropped a second today.”

Among the other high placewinners in the various events were Snow Canyon’s Nicole Christensen and Desert Hills’ Megan Draney in second and third in the 500-yard freestyle; Cedar City’s girls second in the 200-free relay, and Cedar’s Alex Knight third in the 100-backstroke.

Cedar City’s Dick Coston was honored as coach of the year as both his boys and his girls finished second to Park City.

Coston deflected talking about himself, instead choosing to note the success southern Utah athletes had in the meet.

Park City’s boys finished with 465 points to Cedar’s 273. Juan Diego had 194, Bear River 187 and Desert Hills 172. Canyon View and Dixie were in the top eight with 163 and 114, respectively.

The Miner girls scored 493 to Cedar’s 320. Desert Hills had 255 and Dixie 214. Snow Canyon finished with 141 and Pine View had 86.

Southern Utah athletes were well-represented on the Academic All-State teams, which honor only seniors. Girls included Abby Speakman of Desert Hills, Kayla Greer of Dixie and Sophia Beckstrom of Pine View. Boys included Kyle Brown of Cedar City and three from Snow Canyon — Adam Clarkson, Ky Roy Phillips and Walker Wright.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2016, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Bob Hudson is a graduate of Brigham Young University. He has been a sportswriter in central and southern Utah and Southeast Idaho. He has also worked as a news editor and managing editor. He has lived in St. George since 2000.

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