Dayton Swimmers Compete at Championship Meet

COLFAX – Every summer, kids from Dayton and the surrounding areas get the chance to compete against other kids in the Whitman County Swim League. The summer league ends each year with the teams and their members fighting it out for top honors in Colfax, at what is known as the county meet.

This year was no different, as the swimmers from Dayton traveled to Colfax on Sunday to showcase their skills one final time for the summer of 2016.

Dayton had numerous kids provide strong showings over the weekend. On the boy's side, Alex Jenkins was the top points scorer for his team. The 14-year-old scored 16 points, including top six finishes in the 50 and 100 yard freestyles, 100-yard individual medley, and 50-yard backstroke.

Jenkins also took a bronze and two silvers, finishing second in the 50-yard butterfly, 50-yard breaststroke, and was a part of the second place 200-yard freestyle relay team that also consisted of Garrett Buffington, Dominic Truesdale, and Josiah White. His third place finish came in the 200-yard medley relay with the same team as his 200-yard freestyle relay.

On the girls' side, Neylan Bryan led the way for Dayton's swimmers. Bringing in a total of 15 points, Bryan stood atop the podium twice, both with her relay team. The 200-yard medley relay saw the Dayton group of Bryan, Anna Fortier, Taylor Hays, and Payton Dowdy take the top spot.

Dayton girls also won the 200-yard freestyle relay with the team of Bryan, Hays, Dowdy, and Jordyn Helm. Bryan took second in the 50-yard freestyle to go along with two third-place finishes and a fourth, as she ended the day by standing on the podium 6 times. (In the league, the top six finishes get a spot on the podium.)

Hays also helped give her team a push in the standings, completing the day with 10 points total. Her two relay victories were bolstered by four individual point scoring efforts.

Other Dayton individual event winners were Zenobia Burgess in the 25-yard freestyle, Lucy Trump in the 25-yard breaststroke, and Bennie Bryan in both the 25-yard freestyle and the 25-yard breaststroke.

Dayton relay winners were the teams of Lucy Trump, LeAnne Leonard, Moriah Haag, and Zenobia Burgess in the 100-yard freestyle relay, and Miriam Hutchens, Grace Trump, Mallory Dowdy, and Cami Martin also in the 100-yard freestyle relay.

As for team scoring, Dayton's combined team finished the day in 5th with 202 points total. The boys' team ended the day in 5th as well with 71 points. The girls stood on the third step of podium, amassing a point total of 131.

Congratulations to the Dayton Swim Team for a great 2016 season, and to coach Rosy Nechodom for her over 10 years of coaching!