Blackhawks' Makenzie Norman takes first at state swimming

The Cheney High girls' swimming team finished an impressive season, Nov. 15, after they took 10th place with 110 points at the 2A state swimming championships at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.

Sophomore Makenzie Norman capped an impressive year with a state title in the 100-yard freestyle event in 53.31 seconds. Norman also finished fourth in the 50 freestyle.

Fellow sophomore Alexis Schmidt took seventh in the 100 butterfly in 1:02.13. Schmidt was also eighth in the 200 individual medley.

Head coach Jennifer Hochwalt said she proud of her team's performance.

"This year's expectation was that we were going was to be in the top 10," Hochwalt said. "Our highest place at state was 13th, which is what we got last year. They all performed well and did a great job."

In her first trip to state, freshman Tenley Nelson finished 13th in the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle.

"She made the top 16 in two events," Hochwalt said. "It was good that she got to do that as a freshman."

Cheney also had success in relay events. The team of Nelson, Norman, Schmidt, and Kaylie Geschke took fourth in the 400 freestyle relay. Nelson, Norman, Schmidt, and Brittany Meyer finished 10th in the 200 medley relay. Geschke, Meyer, Izzie Corlett and sophomore Melissa Johnson were 24th in the 200 freestyle relay.

Hochwalt said this season is the best she's had since she started coaching the girls' team.

"It took some time to rebuild, but the state meet is evidence that we are heading in the right direction," Hochwalt said. "I couldn't be happier with how we did."

The team loses five seniors to graduation: Geschke, Meyer, Corlett, Marissa Hunley and Sam Abbott. Hochwalt said the seniors were the foundation of the team.

"They made sure we were not just a fast team, but also a team that works together and has good sportsmanship," Hochwalt said. "We're going to lose that leadership, but we're having kids move up and hopefully continue that tradition."

Al Stover can be reached at [email protected].