| Brittney Willson swims for the gold during last weeks meet in Price. |
With only one meet left in the season, the Castle Valley Barracudas continue to swim their hardest. According to their coach, team members are repeatedly improving their times at each event in hopes of taking home the coveted blue ribbon, which many have at the past three meets.
In Fillmore on July 10, the Barracudas faced off against the Fillmore Barracudas and the Salina Stingrays. Abby and Jessie Alexander, Danni and Dakota Noyes, Micah Forbush, Brittney Willson, Jill Malone, Alisann Heath and Todd Davis were the swimmers who competed from Castle Valley. Among those placing first were Jessie Alexander in the 25 yard butterfly and the 100 meter individual medley, Brittany Willson in the 100 meter individual medley and 50 meter breaststroke. Todd Davis also placed in the 50 meter breaststroke. The team as a whole placed first in the girls age 10 and under in the 100 meter freestyle relay.
The next two meets were conducted at the Price City Desert Wave Pool. Participating for the Barracudas was Addie Olsen, Abby and Jessie Alexander, Alisann Heath, Micah Forbush, Michaela Spencer, Thomas and Samuel Nielson, Brittney Willson, Christie and Joset Wells, Thory VanDyke, Lance Riche, Jill Malone and Heidi Prettyman. On July 12 the team excelled at home taking first in nine events, with Brittney Willson taking first in the 50 yard freestyle, 50 yard backstroke and 100 yard individual medley. Thory VanDyke took the gold in the 50 yard freestyle and the 50 yard breaststroke. Alisann Heath took first in the 25 yard breaststroke. The team took first in the 200 yard girls freestyle and medley relays and the boys took first in the 200 yard medley relay.
On July 17 against the Salina Stingrays the team performed better than ever breaking 21 individual time records and taking first in 27 of the 45 events. This event was also attended by the largest amount of team members including, Addy Olsen, Abby Alexander, Alisann Heath, Danni Noyes, Jessie Alexander, Michaela Spencer, Dakota Noyes, Samuel Nielson, Brittney Willson, Joset Wells, Thory VanDyke, Lance Riche, Christi Wells, Thomas Nielson, Talmage Nielson, Heidi Prettyman, Micha Forbush, Taycie Davis and Todd Davis. Nearly everyone who competed from the team walked away with one or more first place ribbons.
The Castle Valley Barracudas next and final meet of the season will be conducted on July 27-28 at the Richfield Invitational in Richfield.