558 N. Main St., Prineville, OR 97754 | (541) 447-6205
Bailey Parrott works on his butterfly stroke during a recent Prineville Swim Team practice. Parrott is one of five Prineville Swim Team members who earned high-point honors in their age group at last year’s Cascade East District Championships. He is just one of several strong swimmers that the team has in the high school age divisions. The team will open its season with a home meet June 28-30.
After dominating the Cascade East District for years, the Prineville Swim Team has finished in the middle of the pack for the past two seasons.
Last year, the swim team finished third in the district behind the High Desert Swim Team of Burns and the Lakeview Swim Team. Although head coach Raquel Swain is not promising a district championship this year, she does expect the team to be improved.
“We have grown this year,” she said. “Last year, we had about 30 kids and we’ve got about 40 kids this year. Growth is always good.”
Swain added that several swimmers who have swum in the past, but did not swim the past couple years have returned to the team.
The result will be a team with greater depth. Swain expects much of that depth to be in the older age groups.
“It’s not that the lower ages aren’t going to perform,” Swain said. “I just think our depth is going to be in the high school level.”
Joey Hehn, who won five races at last year’s district meet, returns to lead the girls team. Also expected to have an impact are Cora White and Abby Curtis in the high school age groups and Anna and McCall Woodward in the younger age groups.
For the high-school-age boys, Bailey Parrott, Mike Burleigh, Cody Thurman, and Paul Miller are all expected to be strong. Jacob Hehn, Ashton Morgan, Taylor Morgan, and Carson Raymond are also expected to contribute.
Both Woodwards, Joey Hehn, Parrott, and Curtis each won high-point honors in their respective age groups at last year’s district meet.
With 10 returning swimmers who won races at last year’s district meet, Swain is excited about the season, which opens June 28-30, when the team hosts a meet in Prineville.
“I think the kids will be prepared,” Swain said. “But they are going to be more challenged this year.”
