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Roseburg dominates in district meet By Greg Stiles ASHLAND � The notion was firmly planted in Brad Scoles� mind. The Ashland High junior might not have ever lost in head-to-head swim competition against Roseburg�s Nick Thompson, but there was always the possibility. After all, Thompson�s big brother, Chris, walked off the podium with a bronze medal around his neck last September at the Summer Olympics in Melbourne. So as Scoles climbed aboard the starting block for Saturday�s Southern Oregon Conference district 200-yard freestyle finals at Southern Oregon University, he resigned himself to merely do his best and let the splash fall where it may. "He has the genes, and it�s a little intimidating that his brother got the Olympic bronze medal," said Scoles "I just went out and did my best and hopefully that was going to be good enough." Scoles turned in a lifetime best time of 1 minute, 48.46 seconds in notching the first of his two wins as Ashland placed third behind Roseburg and Grants Pass. His previous best of 1:53 was equal to Thompson�s preliminary performance on Friday, while Scoles coasted to a 2:00.34 effort in a different heat. The Roseburg junior turned in a 1:51.51 performance Saturday. "I was a little worried because he�s almost beaten me in the past," Scoles said. "I was watching him the whole time. He usually comes back at the end. I tried to get enough of a lead where he couldn�t do that." After 150 yards, Scoles led by three lengths. Thompson, who later won the 500 freestyle, figures Scoles worried for naught. "He didn�t try to put all of the effort I did into (the preliminaries)," Thompson said. "I haven�t swam that fast this season. I didn�t taper or shave for this meet." The Indians won five of 11 boys events and unleashed overwhelming depth to bury their foes. The Tribe piled up 352 points to Grants Pass� 194. Ashland followed with 187, Klamath Union 149, North Medford 105, Eagle point 92, Crater 52 and South Medford 19. Roseburg was just as dominant in the girls competition � winning nine of 11 events, including all three relays � and rolled up 357 points. Ashland muscled past North Medford, 204-194, for second place. South Medford was fourth with 125, Klamath Union was next with 119�, followed by Grants Pass 106�, Eagle Point 81 and Crater 55. The winners of each event advanced to the Class 4A state meet at Osborn Aquatic Center in Corvallis Friday and Saturday. Scoles won the SOC 200 individual medley and 100 freestyle last year and went on to place 12th in the state in the 100 freestyle. He figures he�ll have a better chance to score points in the 200 freestyle than the individual medley. "I�m more of freestyler," Scoles says. "I�m not much for those other strokes, and I think I�ll qualify better at state." Scoles was certainly up to speed in the 100 freestyle, where he bested Grants Pass� Scott Daniels by more than 4� seconds with a 48.62-second effort. Nonetheless, Scoles was a tad disappointed. "I was trying to get the district record," Scoles said. But former Ashland star Curtis Taylor�s 1990 standard of 47.14 proved a little beyond reach. "If someone was pushing me, maybe I might have got it," Scoles said. "But I�ve still got next year." Grants Pass� Matt Bisson, fifth in last year�s state 100 backstroke, once again swept the SOC 100 backstroke (55:02) and 100 breaststroke (1:01:38). But he failed to improve on the district backstroke mark of 54.19 he set last year. In the girls competition, North Medford produced its first entrant in the state meet since the 1986 North/South split when Jamie Erickson paddled to a two-second victory over teammate Holly Roberts in the 200 freestyle. Erickson ended a string of runner-up performances with a 2:05.02 clocking "I felt this season I�d be better at longer distances and decided to give the 200 a try," Erickson said. "It�s (making state) like a dream come true. It�s something I�ve wanted since I was a freshman, and I�m totally stoked." Black Tornado coach Dean Freeman had powerful teams in the 1970s and early 80s. The Tornado placed third in the state in 1980 and 1981 as Susie Ross won championships in the 50 and 100 freestyles to go with a medley relay win. "We qualified tons of kids in those days," Freeman said. "But the rules have changed and the sport has evolved." South Medford senior Ashley Johnson earned a return trip to the state meet when she edged Roseburg freshman Jennifer Saylor for her third straight district 100 butterfly title. Johnson, who placed sixth at state last year, was clocked in 1:01.54, while Saylor was timed in 1:01.75. "I knew that last 25 yards I had to bring it home," Johnson said. "Actually, when I touched the wall I didn�t think I had it. When I looked at the board I was surprised." Johnson�s best time of 59.45 came in last year�s state preliminaries. "I haven�t been close to my best," she said. "I�m hoping to go under a minute again." Ashland coach Neil Foley was more than pleased by his team�s second-place finish. "I�m flabbergasted because I didn�t think we had the horsepower to beat Grants Pass, North Medford and South Medford," Foley said. "I thought they had stronger kids. They all have club swimmers." Liz Alrick (second in the 100 freestyle and third in the 100 breaststroke); Lila Little (fifth in the 500 freestyle and seventh in the 200 freestyle); and Alyssa Simonsen (fourth in the 500 freestyle) and sixth in the 100 backstroke) were the key performers for the Grizzlies. Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 776-4483, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.