Swimmers claim eighth spot at state meet

Cory Smith placed fourth in the 100-yard freestyle Saturday, leading the South Kitsap boys swim team to an eighth-place finish at the Class 4A Swimming and Diving Championships held at the King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way.

Smith, a senior who spent most of the year diving, recorded the highest finish for the Wolves. His time of 47.59 help South score 107 points. Decatur won the team title with 190 points.

South Greg Mercer placed in two events, grabbing the sixth spot in the 50 free while finishing eighth in the 100 free. Mercer, who was fifth in the 50 last year, swam a slow 21.97 in his prime event and recorded a 48.08 in the 100 free.

Nick Dargel took eighth in the 100 backstroke with a time of 55.53 and was 12th in the 100 free at 49.21.

The tandem of Dargel, Smith, Mercer and Skylar Page swam to a seventh-place finish in the 200 free relay, setting a new school record with a time of 1:31.12.

Mercer, Dargel, Smith and Kris Bonar took fifth in the 400 free relay with a time of 3:17.66.

Season comes to an end for Wolves: The South Kitsap girls basketball team saw their dream of reaching the West-Central District Tournament fall just short Friday night as Olympia took a 55-52 overtime win in the Narrows League Tournament cross-over game at Bremerton.

South ended the year at 11-10 while Olympia, 15-7, advances to play Thursday in the district tourney.

Sharrisa Pauley led the Wolves with 13 points while Schelsey Zimmerman netted 12 for South, including a big 3-pointer late in regulation.

But free throws decided the game as Olympia hit 8 of 12 shots in the second half while South did not attempt a free throw in the final eight minutes of play.

Cassondra Clinton paced the Bears with a game-high 15 points while Marisa Schaff added 13.

Olympia 55, South Kitsap 52 (OT)

Olympia – Cassondra Clinton 15, Brittney Putman 11, Marisa Schaff 13, Whitney Champlin 6, Natalie Kirk 2, Meghan Dowling 8.

South Kitsap – Jamie Boyer 8, Schelsey Zimmerman 12, Morgan Wiggin 8, Sharrisa Pauley 13, Sierra Vinson 7, Gabby Aromin 2, Megan Gilbert 2.

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