Park City dominates at state swim; Region 9 crowns several individual champs; STGNews videocast

Written by Andy Griffin
February 14, 2015

PROVO — Southern Utah had plenty of success at the 3A State Swim Meet, though it was Park City that dominated the boys and girls team scores Saturday at BYU’s Richards Swim Center.

Snow Canyon's Tiffany Farris competes in the Womens 100 Yard Backstroke, 3A State Swim Meet, Provo, Utah, Feb. 14, 2015 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Snow Canyon’s Tiffany Farris competes in the Womens 100 Yard Backstroke, 3A State Swim Meet, Provo, Utah, Feb. 14, 2015 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News

“It’s been an incredible experience,” Tridents coach Dani Caldwell said. “We have had a very fast two days. Almost everyone that came lowered their times.”

Caldwell, who coaches the three-school team called the Tridents (Hurricane, Desert Hills and Pine View) said the event was exciting and well run.

Zoey Smith was one of the Tridents who swam well. She brought home the gold medal in the 50-yard freestyle and also captured three other medals in the two-day event. She also qualified for sectionals in the 50-free, setting a personal record. She shaved more than a second off of her PR by swimming the race in 24.16 seconds.

Desert Hills celebrates second-place in the 400 Yard Freestyle Relay, 3A State Swim Meet, Provo, Utah, Feb. 14, 2015 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News
Desert Hills celebrates second-place in the 400 Yard Freestyle Relay, 3A State Swim Meet, Provo, Utah, Feb. 14, 2015 | Photo by Robert Hoppie, ASPpix.com, St. George News

“I’ve had such an amazing time,” she said. “I felt pretty good coming in, especially in the 50-free. But I was pleasantly surprised with the other events. It’s been great.”

Cedar’s Colby Clark captured gold in the 500-freestyle event, an endurance race that featured 10 lengths.

In the 100-yard breaststroke, Thunder freshman Bryant Karratti had the best time all year. But Karratti was beaten out at the last second in the third heat by Park City’s Vincent Hess. Karratti said he was still happy and enjoyed the experience at state.

“I’m not disappointed at all,” he said. “It’s been a great experience. I’m excited for the future.”

Canyon View’s Nathan Wallace was the fastest boys sprinter, winning the 50-free and the 100-free and earning state gold.

Dixie/Snow Canyon coach John Utley said the event was a huge success.

“Everyone has had a great time,” he said. “I was here as a swimmer and now as a coach and it’s such a thrill. Everyone is so supportive of each other and the times here are so fast. It’s bee great.”

For full meet results go here.

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Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2015, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Andy Griffin has been in sports media since 1989 and has covered BYU, Utah State and the Utah Jazz as well as all sports in southern Utah. A journalism graduate of USU, Andy has carried on a dual career as both a sports writer and a sports broadcaster and has been heard around the country. He has also been published in USA Today, Sport magazine, The Sporting News, Fairways magazine, the Los Angeles Times and locally in the Deseret News, the Salt Lake Tribune and the Spectrum. Andy was “The Voice of Region 9 sports,” for many years. He also hosted a daily sports talk show for three years called AG in the a.m. Andy has been married to his college sweetheart Shelly for 28 years and has five children ages 13 to 25.

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