State Swimming News Articles January 6, 2010

SATURDAY, February 6, 2010
Logan's Gammill saves best for last
4A meet » Senior wins fourth straight 200 freestyle title.
By Jennifer Gustavson
Salt Lake Tribune

As a freshman, Logan swimmer Janessa Gammill burst onto the scene by defeating a favored senior to earn her first state title in the 200 freestyle.
But after winning three 200 freestyle state titles in three years, Gammill was concerned karma was about to come back to bite on Friday.
Heading into the 200 freestyle final at the 4A state swim meet at BYU, Gammill was seeded nearly three seconds behind Olympus freshman Shaylee Howard -- a time nearly identical to that which won Gammill her first state title in 2007.
But Gammill had yet to put together a solid race in the event this season. For the first time in her high school career, the six-time 3A individual champion -- Gammill had also won three state titles in the 500 freestyle -- was the underdog.
When Gammill hit the deck, she wasn't thinking about any of that. She knew that she had broken the 2-minute barrier in the waters at BYU three times before. She didn't want to break the streak now.
"I didn't look over at all. I just got in my groove and tried to block everything else out," Gammill said. "It was my race, not theirs."
One minute, 58.22 seconds later, Gammill had won her fourth consecutive 200 freestyle state title -- an amazing feat considering Logan coach Jerry Hodgkinson tinkered with the idea of keeping her out of the event altogether.
The Grizzlies can be glad he reconsidered.
"She always seems to show up for this meet," Hodgkinson said. "It was just a huge performance for us."
After all, Gammill wasn't only chasing down personal records.
Following the first day of competition, Logan is primed to take home its first girls' state swim title in school history -- an impressive feat considering the Grizzlies are competing in their first year in Class 4A.
"It was huge. I figured that if I didn't get some big points, we'd be fighting to stay in the lead," Gammill said. ""Since the move up, not one sport has even come close. We want to get this for our school and for our sport -- to show that swimming is a strong sport at Logan."
Led by Gammill's first-place finish, the Grizzlies racked up 37 points in the 200 freestyle, as freshman teammates Nichole Sorensen and Jamie Hunsaker placed fifth and sixth in the event, respectively -- a feat apparently aided by a bit of friendly rivalry.
"I'm really proud of what we just did," Sorensen said. "But I always wanted to beat [Janessa] before she was gone."
While Sorensen will have to settle for a chance to beat Gammill by the watch in the coming years, a state title would be a welcomed consolation prize.
With Gammill a favorite in today's 500 freestyle and freshman Megan Gray a contender in the 100 breaststroke, the Grizzlies' chances look good. With three scoring freshmen on the roster, this may only be the beginning for Logan's swim program.
But for now, the Grizzlies are enjoying the hunt.
"It feels good to be part of a new tradition," Hunsaker said. "We want to get a win for these seniors."
"It's something we never expected," Hodgkinson said. "Everyone has exceeded my expectations."
On Friday night, the Logan swimmer earned a state title four-peat in the 200 freestyle, winning the event in 1 minute, 58.22 seconds.
» Gammill will try for the eighth individual state title of her high school career in the 500 freestyle today at BYU.


SUNDAY, February 7, 2010
Mountain Crest, Logan rule
By Martin Renzhofer
The Salt Lake Tribune

Provo » Mountain Crest needed an All-American performance Saturday afternoon to overhaul Springville's dream of a third consecutive 4A boys' state swimming title at BYU.
The Mustangs got what they needed and more while winning the state championship.
Meanwhile, in a year that saw Logan struggle in sports following a move from 3A to 4A, the Grizzlies ran away with the girls' team title.
"This was amazing," said Janessa Gammill, winner of the 200- and 500-yard freestyle events. "No one in 4A knew about Logan, or how fast we were."
Gammill knew that a state title was within reach following the team's second-place finish earlier this season to 5A Bingham in the Thanksgiving Invitational. Logan, thanks to a sweep of the top three places in the 500 free, scored 300.5 points, far in front of Olympus (200) and Timpview (192).
"We had a plan before we moved up," Logan coach Jerry Hodgkinson said. "The girls knew what to do. This exceeds our expectations."
Bonnie Dowling, of Spanish Fork, was named the meet's outstanding female swimmer, while Jake Taylor claimed the boys' trophy.
Mountain Crest's comeback performance was completed with Taylor's victory in the 100-yard butterfly. The win not only secured the senior's second All-American performance in this 2010 State Swimming Meet, but shot the Mustangs past Springville with an event to go.
"It was crucial that everybody scored; we needed every point," said Mountain Crest coach Yolanda Bates, eyes red from a congratulatory toss into the pool. "What makes this more special, I moved here three years ago and this is my first generation from freshmen to seniors."
Bates the mother was more proud than Bates the coach of her son Timmy's performance. Bates won the 100 backstroke and 100 free.
"I feel great," he said. "All the hard work has finally paid off. We knew we had a shot to try and take this."
The Mustangs also won the final event as Taylor anchored a 4A state-record performance by Mountain Crest's 400-yard freestyle relay team. The swim in 3:13.68 was nearly a full second quicker than the record, set in 1976.
"I have very mixed emotions," said Taylor, who didn't even swim in the event in which he holds the state record, the 100 free. "I missed breaking the oldest state record [in the 100 breaststroke] by three-tenths of a second. It was the same for the 50 free. I'm very pleased but disappointed."
Mustangs and Grizzlies
» In their first year at 4A, the Logan girls cruise to the state swimming championship.
» Mountain Crest wins the final two events to claim the 4A boys' team title.
» Mountain Crest's Jake Taylor swims All-American times in the 50 free and 100 breast.



State champions depend on true teamwork
4A swimming » Stars for Mountain Crest and Logan are backed by strong supporting casts.
By Dan Ryan
The Salt Lake Tribune

Provo » The signature moments from Mountain Crest's and Logan's state 4A championships didn't necessarily come from each team's signature swimmers.
Jake Taylor was going to end his Mustang career with a flourish. Logan's Janessa Gammill also had her legacy assured in leading the Grizzlies to the girls' title in their first season in 4A.
Both shared the spotlight Saturday and neither minded.
For Mountain Crest, Timmy Bates stepped up Saturday with two individual championships and a 400 freestyle relay victory that helped the Mustangs overtake two-time champion Springville. It was his upset victory in the 100 backstroke that launched a comeback.
Seeded second in the 100 back, Bates finished in 54.06 seconds to edge Timpview's Casey McEachern. Combined with a fifth-place finish from Tyler McKeller, Bates' victory helped Mountain Crest cut Springville's lead from 40 points to seven.
"This feels so good," Bates said. "All the hard work finally paid off."
After congratulating Bates, Taylor went out and won the 100 breaststroke and anchored the 400 free relay team's victory that gave the Mustangs the team title. Taylor praised Bates afterwards.
"That victory was a tremendous morale boost that lifted our team up," Taylor said. "I am so impressed with Timmy's swim. He works harder than anyone I know."
Logan's dominant victory in the girls' competition had its defining moment when Gammill led a 1-2-3 Grizzlies finish in the 500 free. The sweep accounted for 59 team points, adding to Logan's 100-point margin of victory over Olympus. Gammill's partners -- Nichole Sorenson and Jamie Hunsaker -- are both freshmen.
"They did their jobs and they did them perfectly," Gammill said. "I'm very proud to leave knowing my team freshmen will carry on. Nicole and I had a good feeling we could go 1-2 and we told Jamie she had to pick it up. She told us she'd do anything to come in with us and she did -- she stayed with me the first 200 [yards] and did amazing."