Pacer boys swim races past Tigard 128-42

The Lakeridge boys swim team impresses in its ’22-23 TRL season opener.

The Lakeridge boys swim team was ready.

The Pacers, facing Tigard in their 2022-23 Three Rivers League season opener, proved they were ready big-time, sweeping all 11 events to beat the Tigers 128-42 at Tigard Swim Center on Thursday, Dec. 8.

“With three weeks of practice leading to a win … I can’t wait to see how the Pacers perform as the season progresses,” said Lakeridge senior Henry Sturges, winner of the 100-yard breaststroke, as well as a member of two winning relay teams.

“I would credit our team’s success to our ability to support and cheer for one another,” said Pacer senior Rocco Lepiane, winner of the 100 backstroke and a member of two winning relay teams. “I’m excited for the season.”

In addition to Sturges’ and Lepiane’s successes, Lakeridge got two individual wins each from senior Markus Wojtalik, freshman Alexander Vail and freshman Kyle Koch, with Wojtalik taking the 50 and 100 freestyle races, Vail winning the 200 free and 100 butterfly, and Koch setting the pace in the 200 individual medley and 500 freestyle.

Wojtalik topped the 50 free with a time of 23.48 seconds, then came back two races later to win the 100 free with a mark of 52.56. He also swam on two of the Pacers’ three winning relay teams.

Vail came through to take the 200 freestyle at 1:55.22, then stepped up again to grab top honors in the 100 butterfly at 55:81.

Koch, meanwhile, swam to first in the 200 IM at 2:19.73, and later, topped the field in the 500 free at 5:23.47. He also swam on first-and second-place Pacer relays.

The Pacers’ other individual winners included Lepiane in the 100 back with a time of 1:00.58 (he also took second in the butterfly at 59.46) and Sturges in the breaststroke at 1:08.28 (he also took second in the 50 free at 24.04).

“We also demonstrated extreme determination to perform our best at our first meet,” Lepiane added.

In the Pacers’ three relay wins: Lepiane, senior Daniel Kaukonen, Vail and Wojtalik took the 200 medley with a time of 1:47.40; Wojtalik, senior Colin Alexander, freshman Justin Turian and Sturges won the 200 freestyle at 1:36.70; and Koch, Vail, Sturges and Lepiane topped the 400 freestyle at 3:39.99.

Next up, the Pacers will face Tualatin in TRL action at 5 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 15, at Tualatin Swim Center.

See the complete photo gallery from this meet by clicking here.

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