Tigers’ seniors go out in style

UP FOR AIR: La Grande’s MiKaela O’Rourke presses on during the 500-yard freestyle. O’Rourke posted a personal best in the event. - CHRIS BAXTER/The Observer

Seven seniors received recognition Saturday, as Jacey Childs, Emily Cook, Jessica Daly, Maleah Haynes, Caitlin Lipscomb, Kory Escobar and Jon Mattes all competed in the final regular season home meet of their careers.

The girls team finished with 122 points, beating second place Pendleton by 13 points. Baker took third and Hermiston fourth.

The boys team finished in second place with 74 points. Pendleton dominated the competition, finishing with 114 points.

“It was a great day of competition,” La Grande head coach Darren Dutto said. “Everyone on the team continues to show great improvement.”

Sophomore Matt Cook had another outstanding meet, winning the 200-yard freestyle and 100-yard backstroke.

Cook swam in one of the races of the day, edging out Pendleton’s Nolan Hill to win the 200-yard freestyle.

“I knew it was going to be close going into the race,” Cook said. “I’ve swam against Hill before, and they’ve been close races. He’s beat me twice before, though, so it was nice to get him this time.”

Travis Smith also won two races for the boys team, beating the competition in the 200-yard individual medley, and the 100-yard backstroke.

Freshman Dominic Clay won both the 100-yard butterfly and the 500-yard freestyle.

Logan Gomez and Makaela O’Rourke swam neck-and-neck in the 500-yard freestyle in another candidate for race of the day.

Gomez got the better of O’Rourke, but both swimmers posted season-best times. Gomez also took home first place in the 200-yard individual medley.

Allie Godfrey won the 200-yard freestyle and the 100-yard butterfly for the Tigers. Lipscomb won the 100-yard breaststroke.

“The kids have been working really hard,” Dutto said. “Everyone is generating season-best performances. It’s really nice to see.”

The Tigers will now take a couple of weeks off before the Special District 2 meet Feb. 12-13 in La Grande.

All district teams will come to town to vie for the title and attempt to qualify for the state swim meet.

“For what we have, I think we have done pretty good this year,” Cook said of his team. “It’s kind of been a rocky season, but I think we’ll do alright at the district meet.”