Short-handed swimmers shine — Three record strong performances during competition
With only three swimmers available, the Newcastle High School girls swim team turned in several strong performances during two days of competition in Cody on Sept. 3-4.
Allie Lunstra, Natalie Dean and Lillian Lopez represented Newcastle in the Cody Triple Dual on Thursday and the Terry Bartlett Invitational on Friday. Macy Steber made the trip but remained sidelined by the ankle injury she suffered during the opening weekend in Laramie. Madalyn Francis was home sick, while Shelby Smith and Chevy Bryan had prior commitments.
“We were down, numbers-wise,” head coach Sonja Karp said. “But the girls competed well and put up some good times.”
Lunstra added the 200-yard individual medley to her state-qualifying slate Thursday, winning the event in 2 minutes, 38.93 seconds. Her time was just three-tenths of a second off her personal best from last season.
She also won the 100 backstroke in a state-qualifying 1:12.92, finishing more than 14 seconds ahead of the runner-up.
“She didn’t have anyone to race but herself,” Karp said. “It’s tough when you are so far ahead and don’t have anyone pushing you.”
Dean recorded a personal-best time of 1:53.44 in the 100 breaststroke, improving by approximately five seconds. She also finished the 50 freestyle in 36.04.
Lopez completed the 50 freestyle in 37.55 before placing sixth in the 100 freestyle with a time of 1:20.69.
Although Newcastle did not have enough swimmers to field a relay, a Worland swimmer joined the Dogies for an exhibition entry in the 400 freestyle relay. Lopez swam her 100-yard leg in a personal-best 1:25.61.
“The swimming community is just a big family, and Worland’s coach offered us one of his swimmers so that we could compete,” Karp said. “That was really awesome.”
The Dogies returned to the pool Friday for the Terry Bartlett Invitational against Cody, Worland, Powell and a deep Lander squad.
Lunstra placed second in the 50 freestyle with a state-qualifying time of 28.14. She then took third in the 100 butterfly, finishing in 1:12.94 and just 0.63 seconds behind Lander’s Shyrone AnesiShoyo for second.
“She raced hard and looked good through the whole race,” Karp said. “She did great on her underwaters but lost a little gas in the second 50.”
Lopez finished the 50 freestyle in 36.12 and the 100 freestyle in 1:23.90. Dean recorded a 37.53 in the 50 freestyle and completed the 100 breaststroke in 2:01.23.
“The girls were tired going into the invite,” Karp said. “They competed hard, though, and I was pleased with how they raced, especially against the juggernaut that is the Lander varsity team.”
The Dogies return to competition Friday, Sept. 11, at Worland, with the meet beginning at 4 p.m. They will travel to Powell for a 10 a.m. meet Saturday, Sept. 12.
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