Norman, Schmidt qualify at Prosser for 2A state meet

By JOHN McCALLUM

Editor

The Cheney High girls swimming team is off to a good start in 2016 as two swimmers have already qualified for 2A state competition this November.

Seniors Makenzie Norman and Alexis Schmidt punched their tickets to Federal Way by posting state qualifying times last Saturday at a four-team jamboree in Prosser. Norman turned in a time of 56.09 seconds in the 100-yard freestyle, about 1.5 seconds better than the qualifying mark of 57.60, while Schmidt had a blistering 1:01.77 time to qualify in the 100 butterfly, needing only a 1:04.30 to reach Federal Way.

“It’s faster than they were at this time last year,” Blackhawks head coach Jennifer Hochwalt said.

That’s a good sign for both swimmers as Norman won the 100 free 2A state title last year in 52.74 while Schmidt was fifth in the 100 butterfly in 1:00.10. Archbishop Murphy senior Kaelee McCloskey captured the title in 58.72.

Hochwalt said all of Cheney’s swimmers did well at Prosser, turning in good times and getting the chance to swim at least two events, including longer races. It gave Hochwalt the opportunity to make some better determinations as to where to slot the Blackhawks for this Friday’s season-opener against Ellensburg at Eastern Washington University’s pool.

Hochwalt said they will have several swimmers competing in each of the eight individual events along with at least one relay team, and likely 3-4 teams in the two freestyle relays. Last year, Cheney lost to the Bulldogs 103-60 in Ellensburg.

“(We) should be able to fill out a whole lineup,” Hochwalt said. “I’m excited to see what happens (Friday).”

John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].