Lady Generals shine at SSL meet

The Shafter High girls swimming team had an outstanding showing at the SSL championship meet last week, qualifying in several events for the upcoming Valley meet held in Hanford.

The relay teams, both the 200 freestyle and the 400 freestyle teams medaled. In the 200 relay, the team, consisting of AnneMarie Piuser, Sarah Jane Osborne, Josephine Martin and Sydnee Macias won the league championship with a Valley-qualifying time of 1:45. Shafter placed second in the 400 relay.

In individual events, the Lady Generals had several standout performances, with Osborne getting two first places. Osborne won the 100 yard backstroke with a time of 1:00.05. The Lady Generals went 1,2 in the 100 butterfly, with Osborne barely edging out teammate Josephine Martin. Piuser placed third in the 100 yard breaststroke and second place in the 100 yard freestyle.

Macias got third in the 100 freestyle and added a third place finish in the 50 yard freestyle. Martin captured first place in the 200 IM race, dominating the field by more than five seconds.

They also had Rylin Hanner place third in the 500 yard freestyle race. In the team race, Shafter had an amazing 462 points. They amassed that many points with only five swimmers.

The Valley Championships will be held this weekend in Hanford at Sierra Pacific High School.

The Lady Generals go into the meet with high expectations, considering their seedings in some of the events. Martin has the top time in the Section in the 200IM, seeded number one. Osborne is also at the top of the class in the 100 yard butterfly event. Shafter's two relay teams come into the Valley Championships as the top seed in the 200 yard freestyle and second in the 400 yard relay. Coach Larissa Davis said that this team is small in numbers, but mighty in the pool. "I'm really proud of these girls. They work so hard and have overcome so much, especially with having to travel everyday into Bakersfield just to practice."