How’d I do?
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
Well, you can’t make crazy predictions and then not eat your words, so that’s what I’m here to do.
Had a couple of readers e-mail me about how difficult it was to watch the swimming events, and I appreciate the heads up.
As a writer, I wasn’t really focused on the crowd issues, but I understand the concern. Apparently, there were some occupancy issues at OCCC this weekend and not everyone could get in.
I’ll keep ya posted to see if the OSSAA has any plans to try to change the format.
But let’s go back to Friday’s paper where I did the boys/girls/teams to watch.
Boys
Alex Barto, Stillwater: Did not dominate like I expected him to. Placed second in 200 free and third in 500 free. Also part of a couple relay teams that finished third. Solid but not what I was expecting.
Wilson Wei, Norman North: Kinda in the same category. Didn’t do bad by any means with a third in the 200 IM and a second in the 500 free. Thought he might do some sprinting, guess not.
Ian McKenzie, Norman North: Won his first individual title in the 100 free. Also posted a 50 free time under 21 seconds. Named co-swimmer of the year for 6A boys. No apology necessary.
Isaac McKnight, Chickasha: Won both the 50 and 100 free, which are Chickasha’s first swimming championships. Would have finished extremely high in 6A with same times and may have even been pushed more.
Typ Whinnery, Deer Creek: Though he was very ill for the finals, won both the 500 free and 100 breaststroke going away. Shows what type of stamina and strength to do both in such a short period.
Who I should have talked about: Nelson Head and Eastman Holloway of Tulsa Union and Dakota Wheeler of Westmoore. All three impressive in pulling off the double golds.
Girls
Megan Myers, Tulsa Union: Won 500 free and placed third in 200 free. Union just couldn’t overtake Jenks in any of the relays, finishing second every time.
Kaylee Steffen, Putnam West: Went in thinking she would do 100 butterfly. Won 200 IM and went under a 1:00 in backstroke, which she said was her goal. Valerie Hayes of Jenks won the event.
Nikki Colton, Edmond North: Her and Jill Enge cursed each other by being in the same events. Colton placed second in the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke and did all she could for Huskies.
Parris Schoppa, Putnam North: Went in as favorite in 50 and 100 free and pulled off the double. Added cherry on top with girls swimmer of the year in 6A.
Lizzy Whitbeck, McGuinness: Not much more she could have done. Two individual titles, two relay titles and the first ever 5A title to the Irish girls.
Who I should have talked about: Don’t know, pretty confident with my selections. Jenks’ Michelle Glass had a great tournament, and I was saving Chelsea Ye for a story, so not feeling too bad.
Boys teams
Jenks: Placed first, dominated. Didn’t have to be a genius to figure that one out.
Stillwater: Thought Pioneers would come in second, fell back to fourth.
Norman North: Sixth place was not what the T’Wolves were hoping for though did have some solid individual outings.
Edmond Memorial: Got big times by all the right people and placed third.
Heritage Hall: Had some real great moments with Narayan Naik and Turner Petersen, but didn’t have enough in the final events and placed fourth.
Edmond North: Did not give the Huskies enough credit as they took second when I was projecting a sixth spot.
Girls teams
Jenks: Placed first and held off mighty charge by Tulsa Union.
Tulsa Union: Placed second and went stroke-for-stroke with Jenks.
Edmond Memorial: Jill Enge paved way to third-place finish, so I got 1-3 right.
Putnam North: Schoppa’s brilliance aside, Panthers finished eighth.
McGuinness: Did what was expected and grabbed the 5A title.
And for fun, here are those short videos. Girls: Whitbeck, Ye, Steffen and Schoppa. Boys: Wheeler, McKnight and McKenzie.
Up next on the Boneman’s winter tour is wrestling. Covering 3A and 4A, so see you at State Fair Arena.
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