After smashing the competition last week en route to a Region 15 Championship, the Emery Spartan swimmers gear up for Thursday’s state meet at Wasatch Aquatics Center in Heber City.
Two Emery swimmers broke school records during the Region 15 meet. Alexis Johansen broke the old school record in the 100-yard backstroke, posting a 1:07.60. Keldan Guymon set a new mark in the 100-yard breaststroke, notching a time of 1:03.29.
Johansen’s time was the seventh fastest time posted in 3A this year. Guymon’s was the second fasted posted in the 3A ranks as well.
The Lady Spartans swam past Richfield last week, finishing with 390 points compared to just 322 from the Wildcats. The boys fared even better, finishing 90 points better than Richfield (326-236).
The Spartans will take 28 (one alternate included) swimmers to Heber City, 19 of whom will compete in more than one event. The list of swimmers that will compete include:
Megan Hess, Alejandra Garcia, Hannah Morris, Levi Olsen, Allen Durrant, Raquelle Simmons, Jenny Funk, Haley Guymon, Kaelee Hooley, Malone Moss, Deegan Minchey, Parker Stilson, Brooklynn Potter, Angellena Migliori, Alexis Johansen, BriAnne Bass, Brennan Durrant, Keldan Guymon, Abigail Olsen, Sydney Terwilleger, Makyan Nielson, Asher Beagley, Eli Beagley, Jonathan Seely, Brynne Urie, Gage Jensen, Harmony Willson and Eme Oliverson.
Team events in which the Spartans will participate include girls’ and boys’ 200-yard freestyle (the boys posted second fastest 3A time this season, 1:39.38), girls’ and boys’ 400-yard freestyle (boys posted fastest 3A time this season, 3:39.79) and girls’ and boys’ 200-yard medley (girls posted fastest 3A time this season, 2:04.93; boys second fastest, 1:50.97).
Limited to just two events apiece in the state meet, the following Spartan swimmers will look to help their team’s cause it their quest for another state title, posting top times during the regular season:
Keldan Guyman in the 50-yard freestyle. Guymon posted the fastest qualifying 3A time this year, a 23.16 mark set at the Region 15 Championships. He will also look to do the same in the 100-yard freestyle after also notching the fastest 3A time (51.48) earlier in the year at the Tooele Invitational.
Haley Guymon in the 100-yard breaststroke. The freshman turned in the second fastest 3A mark this year, posting a 1:16.87 at the Region 15 Championships.
The Spartans will face stiff competition on Thursday, battling familiar foes and other top-ranked teams from the 3A classification.
“State this year is going to be close; it could go any way,” said head coach Andrea Johansen. “It is so close that it will be exciting.”
Emery will be looking for championship number four when the team competes on Thursday in Heber City, a remarkable feat considering the Emery High School swim program began in 2010. The Emery boys won titles in 2015 and 2017. The girls have a championship under their belts as well, taking the title in 2015.
“Leave it all in the pool,” Keldan Guymon said after his record-breaking performance last week in the Region 15 Championships.
Look for all 28 Emery swimmers to follow Guymon’s admonition.