The Lakeridge girls swim team wins big in its 2022-23 opener.
The Lakeridge girls swim team wasn’t perfect.
The Pacers, facing Tigard in their 2022-23 Three Rivers League season opener, only won 10 of the meet’s 11 events.
So while Lakeridge wasn’t flawless in its season opener — a 128-42 rout of Tigard at Tigard Swim Center on Thursday, Dec. 9 — the Pacers came pretty darned close.
“I’m really happy with the enthusiasm on our team and this meet was a great start to the season,” said Lakeridge senior Riley McDowell, winner of the 500-yard freestyle. “I can’t wait to see how we succeed this season.”
“(The Tigard) meet was a great start to the season and I’m ready to witness our team grow together,” said Pacer senior Sophie Robinson, who finished second and third in her two individual events and also swam on two runner-up Pacer relay teams. “I’m very excited to see where this team goes, I can already feel the mutual support and excitement between all the Lakeridge swimmers.”
Beyond Robinson and McDowell’s efforts, Lakeridge got two individual wins from junior Rae Dodson (in the 200 individual medley and 100 backstroke), as well as individual “Ws” from sophomore Sydney Brandvold in the 200 freestyle, freshman Zoe Chen in the 100 butterfly, junior Munroe Blem in the 100 freestyle and sophomore Jessica Paulsen in the 100 breaststroke.
Dodson did her part in the 200 IM and 100 back, winning the IM with a mark of 2 minutes, 11.46 seconds, then coming back to win again in the backstroke at 1:01.71. She also swam on two first-place Lakeridge relay teams.
McDowell came through in the 500 free, taking first by almost 30 seconds in 5:53.94. She also placed fourth in the 200 IM and swam on a third-place Pacer relay. Robinson, meanwhile, took second in the 100 free at 1:01.22 and third in the 100 back with a 1:11.04, as well as swimming on two runner-up Pacer relays.
“We have a community where people will cheer for others that they’ve never even met before and I think that’s really cool,” Robinson said.
The Pacers’ other individual winners included: Brandvold in the 200 freestyle at 2:05.43, Chen in the butterfly with a 1:02.08, Blem in the 100 free at 58.10 and Paulsen in the breaststroke with a 1:12.06.
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.
To buy prints or digital downloads from this game, go to milesvance.smugmug.com.
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