Alexis Schmidt captures state swimming title in butterfly

The Cheney High School’s girls swim team saved their best efforts for the last meet — the 2A state championships Nov. 11–12 at the Federal Way Aquatics Center. The Blackhawks scored in six of eight events to finish eighth overall with 120 points.

“Everybody swam well,” head coach Jennifer Hochwalt said.

Starting with Alexis Schmidt. The senior turned in a preliminary heat time of 58.47 seconds in the 100-yard butterfly on Friday, and then bettered that in the finals Saturday with a 58.21 to claim not only her first state title — but also set a new school record in the event that Hochwalt said had been around since 1990–1991.

Schmidt also placed third in the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:12.16. Her previous highest finishes in both events was fifth place in 2015.

Three-time state title holder Makenzie Norman wrapped up her high school career with finals appearances as well. The senior missed a second title in the 50 freestyle, but broke her own record in finishing second in 24.21. A difficult to achieve third-straight title in the 100 free proved elusive as Norman placed fourth with a mark of 53.27.

While missing the finals, Cheney’s two other individual event swimmers also did well, Hochwalt said. Sophomore Courtney Hanson bested her district time in the 100 free with a prelim mark of 59.62, placing 17th at Federal Way.

Senior Melissa Johnson wrapped up her career with an appearance in the 500 freestyle, thanks to wildcard allocations from Western Washington district competition Nov. 4–5. Hochwalt said Johnson shaved over 14 seconds off her previous best time to finish 19th in 5:53.16.

“She sure improved a huge chunk,” Hochwalt said.

In the relays, the Blackhawks 400 freestyle team of Norman, Hanson, Johnson and Schmidt swam six seconds faster than their 2015 state time to finish fourth in 3:49.58. The 200 freestyle team of Norman, Hanson, Isabell Williams and Schmidt turned in a time of 1:44.56 for eighth, while the 200 individual medley team of Williams, Evarosa Perry, Echo Mecklenburg and Abby Wood turned in their best splits of the season, but didn’t make it past the prelims, finishing 22nd in 2:12.42.

Liberty High School of Renton won the 2A team state title with 322 points, 62 points ahead of runner-up Port Angeles. Cheney’s fellow Great Northern League/Central Washington Athletic Conference rival Pullman finished fifth.

John McCallum can be reached at jmac@cheneyfreepress.com.