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Davis Journal

Davis’ Carlson named 6A swimmer of meet, winning three state titles

Feb 27, 2023 10:08AM ● By Catherine Garrett

Davis High’s Sam Carlson won the 50 freestyle and 100 free events at the 6A state championships at Brigham Young University Feb. 18. The senior – who earned 6A Male Swimmer of the Meet honors – also swam a leg on the first-place 200 free relay team which also included Sam Landheim, Dylan Grant and Tyler Bennett. Photo courtesy Kit Barker

Davis

Davis High senior Sam Carlson finished off his high school swimming career with state championship swims in the 50 freestyle and the 100 free while also anchoring the first-place 200 free relay which also included Sam Landheim, Dylan Grant and Tyler Bennett. His performances in the 6A state championships Feb. 17-18 at Brigham Young University earned him 6A Male Swimmer of the Meet honors.

“Sam’s winning times were so fast,” said head coach Kit Barker, noting that his 50 free time of 21.00 and 100 free mark of 46.99 broke his own school records in the events.

Also earning a medal for the boys squad was junior Garrett Barker who placed sixth in the 200 free.

The boys team was sitting in fourth place, but two disqualifications in the 400 free relay and the 200 medley relay races dropped them to ninth overall.

Senior Lia Merrill came in third in the 100 backstroke, breaking her own school record with a 59.45 swim, to lead the seventh-place girls squad. Also receiving a medal for a top-8 finish was junior Allie Allen who was eighth in the 500 free.

“We had lots of great swims,” said coach Barker. “I am very proud of all my swimmers. They truly did their best. It was truly an exhilarating meet and fun experience for all!

Other finals showings at state included Macie Cragun (ninth, 100 breaststroke), Merrill (11th, 200 Individual Medley), Hannah Shaw (12th, 100 free), Garrett Barker (13th, 500 free), Micah Hale (14th, 200 free; 14th, 100 free), Dylan Grant (15th, 200 free), Sam Landheim (15th, 50 free; 16th, 100 fly). The girls 200 medley relay lineup of Merrill, Cragun, Nahlia Stewart and Adlen Groberg placed seventh, the girls 200 free relay team of Hale, Cragun, Stewart and Shaw came in seventh and the girls 400 free squad of Hale, Groberg, Merrill and Shaw finished eighth.

“The night before we looked at all the goals they had set at the beginning of the season and all, but a couple, had already accomplished their goals and now could look to improving even more at state, which most of them did,” said coach Barker.



Farmington

Farmington High senior Mason Draxler placed third in the 100 breast at the 6A swimming championships while also earning a medal in the 200 IM with a fifth-place finish. He was also part of the FHS record-breaking 400 free relay which also included John Lyman, Matthew Scoresby and Will Scott who finished ninth for the 12th-place boys squad.

Senior Teal Edholm set a new school record in the 100 free with a time of 55.04, taking fourth overall while also winning a medal in the 200 IM with a seventh-place showing for the 13th-place girls team.

“We had a good showing with some impressive swims,” said head coach Stacy Edholm. “We had a big improvement from last year where the boys got 17th place and the girls got 16th. Every year we are improving!”

Junior Brooke Belnap broke her school record in the 500 free with a swim of 5:44.42 in the preliminaries the first day of state and finished 15th in the finals. She also came in 13th in the 50 free. She also swam on the school record-breaking 200 free relay team – which also included London Spears, Nerys Turnbaugh and Teal Edholm – “that surprised us all with an impressive eighth place showing,” according to coach Edholm.

Other finals finishes at state for Farmington was sophomore Hayden Wangemann who came in 14th in the 100 breast, the boys 200 free relay team of Wangemann, Ezra Moon, Jack Cresap and Kael Michaelson who finished 10th and the girls 400 free relay lineup of Belnap, Spears, Turnbaugh and Teal Edholm who were 14th.

Also competing at state for the Phoenix program were first-timers, sophomore Cannon Christensen and freshman Maddy Kartchner.

“When the State meet wrapped up, many tears were shed,” said coach Edholm. “It is always difficult to say goodbye to the graduating seniors and to an eventful and successful swim season. We look forward to next year and another successful swim season, but first the Phoenix swimmers will take a well-deserved rest.”