After the disappointment of having their first home meet canceled due to adverse weather conditions, seven members of the Chadron Sharks Swim Team traveled to Casper, WY January 20-21, 2024, to compete in the Arctic Open. This was another successful meet for the Sharks, as they earned 22 personal-best times, and four swimmers have now qualified in a total of 18 events at the State Championships in Laramie, WY February 23-25, 2024.
The girls are consistently improving their times at every meet, and the Arctic Open was no exception.
Fabiola Benitez-Socarras, age
11, a second-year member of the Chadron Sharks from Rushville, was their youngest participant, and has made improvements with every meet. In Casper, she dropped time in four of the six events in which she competed and had one top-ten finish.
Valeria Benitez, age 15, from Rushville competed in seven events, had four top-ten finishes, and dropped time in one of her events at this meet. Although Breaststroke is her preferred event, she has qualified for State in the 50 Freestyle. This is the third year that Valeria has been swimming with the Chadron Sharks, and she is a member of the relay team that will be competing at State.
Jessalinn Dieriex, age 17, from Rushville competed in six events, had two top-ten finishes, and improved her time in three of her events. She has branched out this season and has competed in long distances at each meet, including the 500 and 1650 Freestyle. This is the second year that she has been a member of the Sharks.
Overall scores from the Casper Arctic Open are as follows: Women
9 & Over 50 Yard Freestyle: R. Pourier – 28.66, 5th place; V. Benitez – 31.96, 10th place; K. Pourier – 33.72, 15th place; J. Dieriex – 41.16, 32nd place; F. Benitez-Socarras – 44.31, 40th place
9-12 50 Yard Backstroke: F. Benitez-Socarras – 50.48, 16th place
13 & Over 100 Yard Backstroke: R. Pourier – 1:18.84,
6th place; K. Pourier – 1:27.17,
9th place; V. Benitez – 1:29.22,
12th place; J. Dieriex - 1:54.78,
15th place
9-12 100 Yard Breaststroke: F. Benitez-Socarras – 2:18.34, 8th place
13 & Over 200 Yard Freestyle: R. Pourier – 2:33.03, 7th place; K. Pourier – 2:49.64, 11th place; V. Benitez – 2:59.06, 13th place; J. Dieriex – 3:30.09, 17th place
9 & Over 500 Yard Freestyle: K. Pourier – 7:42.52, 4th place; J. Dieriex – 9:56.41, 8th place
9 & Over 50 Yard Breaststroke: F. Benitez-Socarras – 1:00.80,
14th place
13 & Over 100 Yard Breaststroke: R. Pourier –
1:28.04, 6th place; V. Benitez
– 1:36.58, 9th place; K. Pourier
– 1:48.19, 10th place
13 & Over 200 Yard Individual Medley: R. Pourier – 2:53.59,
5th place; V. Benitez – 3:21.28,
7th place; K. Pourier – 3:24.11,
8th place
13 & Over 100 Yard Butterfly: R. Pourier – 1:13.16, 3rd place; K. Pourier – 1:39.42, 8th place
9-12 100 Yard Backstroke: F. Benitez-Socarras – 1:57.77, 14th place 13 & Over 200 Yard Backstroke: V. Benitez – 3:14.88,
5th place; K. Pourier – 3:23.80,
7th place; J. Dieriex – 4:22.02,
8th place
9 & Over 100 Yard Freestyle: R. Pourier – 1:06.43, 7th place; K. Pourier – 1:18.46, 16th place; V. Benitez – 1:18.48, 17th place; J. Dieriex – 1:37.36, 31st place; F. Benitez-Socarras – 2:01.94,
40th place Men
9 & Over 50 Yard Freestyle: B. Shevchenko – 22.28, 1st place; C. Peters – 25.55, 3rd place
13 & Over 100 Yard Backstroke: B. Shevchenko
– 55.05, 1st place; C. Peters –
1:09.51, 3rd place
13 & Over 200 Yard Freestyle: B. Shevchenko – 1:58.38, 1st place; C. Peters – 2:12.75, 4th place
9 & Over 500 Yard Freestyle: C. Peters – 6:21.13, 1st place
13 & Over 100 Yard Breaststroke: C. Peters – 1:21.63,
4th place
13 & Over 200 Yard Individual Medley: B. Shevchenko –
2:09.32, 1st place; C. Peters –
2:34.98, 3rd place
13 & Over 100 Yard Butterfly: C. Peters – 1:14.16, 3rd place
13 & Over 200 Yard Backstroke: B. Shevchenko –
2:03.05, 1st place; C. Peters –
2:45.48, 4th place
9 & Over 100 Yard Freestyle: B. Shevchenko – 50.51, 1st place; C. Peters – 1:02.08, 3rd place The Sharks will travel to Newcastle, Wyoming for the district meet February 10-11,
2024, which will be their last meet of the winter short course season before the State Championships in Laramie, Wyo.