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Click Here 45 °F Forecast | Road Cams Friday, February 27, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend February 12, 2004 Ashland boys aim to sink Roseburg’s streak By TIM TROWER Mail Tribune One of the most dominant Southern Oregon Conference sports programs is in jeopardy of seeing its championship string end. Roseburg’s boys swim team is believed to have won 13 straight District 6 titles, although records for two years — 1992 and ‘93 — aren’t readily available. Ashland is the last known team to have beaten out the Indians, pulling off the feat in 1990, and it’s the Grizzlies who expect to do so again this weekend. The meet is Friday and Saturday at the Southern Oregon University pool in McNeal Pavilion. Action begins at noon both days, with preliminaries Friday and finals Saturday. Advertisement "I think our boys will win it and win it easily," says Ashland coach Neil Foley. Roseburg swept the boys and girls titles last year, and the latter, at least, won’t have difficulty defending. The winners in each event qualify for state, as do those who meet qualifying standards. Wild-card entries will fill out the 18 berths in each event once results are in from all of the state’s district meets. Meanwhile, the District 4 meet, featuring the favored Phoenix boys team and a strong Pirates girls team, will take place in North Bend Friday and Saturday. The state meet is Feb. 20-21 at Osborn Aquatic Center in Corvallis. Since he moved here in 1988, Foley says, he’s tried to convince outsiders that swimming is a team sport — particularly when it comes to championships. He hopes the Grizzlies prove it at district. "That’s the way I’ve always coached it," says Foley. "We do end up with powerhouse people like Arron (Nelson), who emerge as No. 1 and get their picture in the paper. "But I’ve always told the kids that in a championship meet like this, it doesn’t matter if it’s Arron who gets two firsts and is on two winning relays or a freshman who gets that last point for placing 12th. We need everybody to do it." The top 12 placers — six finalists and six consolation finalists — score points, with relays counting double. Ashland has 20 boys entered, and nearly all of them should score, says Foley. Senior freestyle sprinter Nelson is the Grizzlies’ marquee performer, having placed third at state in the 50-yard race last year. He qualified for state in the 100 free but didn’t place. He’s seeded first in the 50 with a time of 22.61 seconds and first in the 100 at 51.12. No other Ashland individuals are top seeds, but others will figure prominently. Sophomore Ben Dawson is seeded No. 2 in the 200 free (2:03.01) and No. 3 in the 500 free (5:36.10); junior Travis Bishop is No. 2 in the 200 individual medley (2:12.80) and No. 3 in the 100 breaststroke; sophomore Kyle Humphrey is No. 3 in the 100 butterfly (1:04.07); and, in the 100 backstroke, junior Caleb Salmond is No. 2 (1:02.86) and senior Nathan Jessop No. 3 (1:03.91). Ashland’s core should also provide plenty of points in the three relays. Outside of Garrett Shields, the top seed in the 200 IM and 100 breast, Roseburg has no top 3s. "We’ll be disappointed if we don’t win it," says Foley. North Medford and Crater will not be without strong representation. Sophomore Tolga Tokman of North is seeded first in the 500 free, where he isn’t likely to be pushed, and second in the 100 butterfly. Crater senior Nicholas Janssen is No. 1 in the 200 free, and teammate Michael Heckert, a sophomore, is tops in the 100 back. Roseburg’s girls have the top seeds in all but three events. Behind the Indians, North Medford and Ashland should battle for second. The Grizzlies have two No. 1 seeds in sophomore Ashley Roda (200 free) and senior Michelle Smith (100 free). South Medford sophomore Nancy Hawley is No. 1 in the 500 free. In the District 4 meet, the Phoenix boys will be led by many of the same swimmers who powered the team to last year’s title — its second straight and third overall — and a sixth-place showing at state. Junior Justin Heath leads the way. He set district marks in the 200 and 500 frees, then went on to place third at state in each event. He’s seeded first in the 500 and second in the 200. The only other Pirate with a top individual seed is Dino Rossi in the 100 free, but all three relay teams are seeded first. Jeff Stone, a senior, won the district 100 back a year ago and was fourth at state. He’s seeded second in the event and is No. 4 in the 50 free. The Pirate girls will be hard pressed to catch host North Bend, which is led by standout junior Kim Jasmer. Kelsey Nelson is seeded second in the 200 and 500 frees, and the Phoenix medley relay has the best time going in. Reach sports editor Tim Trower at 776-4479, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! 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