Sports > Schools
Swimming: Coppell places third at District 5-5A Meet
By Justin Thomas, jthomas@starlocalnews.com
Coppell's swimming and diving teams had a strong showing Friday at the District 5-5A Championships at the LISD Natatorium in The Colony as the Cowboys and Cowgirls secured third-place finishes, respectively.
The boys team (77 points) finished behind Flower Mound (189) and Hebron (93), while the girls squad (100) placed behind the Lady Jaguars (201.50) and just off the pace of Marcus (106).
"The meet went very well for us," said Patrick Henry, Coppell head coach. "We won a few events we haven't won in a while, had some personal best times and had some real surprises in a few swims."
The top six swimmers in each event qualify for UIL Class 5A Region II Championships Feb. 8-9 at the Keller Natatorium.
Leading the way for Coppell with gold medals were the girls 200-yard medley relay team (Joanne Chu, Sarah Zeh, Lauren Kuechler and Shannon Wheeler; 1:53.36), Lauren Kuechler in the girls 200 IM (2:12.06) and Hayden Henry in the boys 200 IM (1:56.16) and 100 backstroke (59.81),
"The girls medley team was a real surprise," Patrick said. "They were fantastic and were just off the school record.
"Lauren and Hayden swam great as well and took care of business."
Also earning their way on the medal stand were the girls 400 free relay team consisting of Kuechler, Wheeler, Savannah Henry and Gabby Rivera (second, 3:46.32), the boys 400 free relay featuring Han Beoung, Chanin, John Jacob Cantwell and Henry (second, 3:25.25), Wheeler in the girls 50 free (third, 25.57) and 100 free (third, 56.04), Kuechler in the girls 100 butterfly (second, 59.58) and Savannah in the girls 100 free (second, 55.48) and 100 backstroke (second, 1:00.54).
"Savannah and Shannon did well in the 100 free and both set personal bests," Patrick said.
Rounding out Coppell's regional qualifiers were the boys 200 medley relay in fourth (Henry, Mason David, Chanin and Cantwell), boys 200 free relay in fifth (Matt Gonzales, David, Beoung Han and Alejandro Arroyo), Joanne Chu in the girls 50 free (fourth) and 100 backstroke (fourth), Chanin in the boys 100 butterfly (fourth) and 500 free (fifth), Gonzales in the boys 100 backstroke (fourth), Han in the boys 100 backstroke (fifth) and Mason in the boys 100 breaststroke (fourth).
"Joanne really stepped up in the backstroke to qualify," Patrick said. "And a couple of our relay teams weren't seeded but came through and advanced."
Coppell now shifts its attention to preparing for regionals.
"I think Hayden has a good chance to make it to state in the breaststroke," Patrick said. "He finished second in regionals and fifth at state last year, but this season he is hoping to get back to state in the breaststroke and also in the 200 IM after missing out last year. He would really like to get there in both events.
"I think our girls relay teams and Lauren in the 200 fly have a good chance, too. The kids have had a great attitude and we're excited to be moving on."
District 5-5A Championships
Friday in The Colony
Boys
1 Flower Mound, 189
2. Hebron, 93
3. Coppell, 77
4. Lewisville, 66
5. Denton Ryan, 60
6. Marcus, 45
Girls
1 Flower Mound, 201.50
2. Marcus, 106
3. Coppell, 100
4. Hebron, 58.50
5. Lewisville, 35
6. Denton Ryan, 20
The boys team (77 points) finished behind Flower Mound (189) and Hebron (93), while the girls squad (100) placed behind the Lady Jaguars (201.50) and just off the pace of Marcus (106).
"The meet went very well for us," said Patrick Henry, Coppell head coach. "We won a few events we haven't won in a while, had some personal best times and had some real surprises in a few swims."
The top six swimmers in each event qualify for UIL Class 5A Region II Championships Feb. 8-9 at the Keller Natatorium.
Leading the way for Coppell with gold medals were the girls 200-yard medley relay team (Joanne Chu, Sarah Zeh, Lauren Kuechler and Shannon Wheeler; 1:53.36), Lauren Kuechler in the girls 200 IM (2:12.06) and Hayden Henry in the boys 200 IM (1:56.16) and 100 backstroke (59.81),
"The girls medley team was a real surprise," Patrick said. "They were fantastic and were just off the school record.
"Lauren and Hayden swam great as well and took care of business."
Also earning their way on the medal stand were the girls 400 free relay team consisting of Kuechler, Wheeler, Savannah Henry and Gabby Rivera (second, 3:46.32), the boys 400 free relay featuring Han Beoung, Chanin, John Jacob Cantwell and Henry (second, 3:25.25), Wheeler in the girls 50 free (third, 25.57) and 100 free (third, 56.04), Kuechler in the girls 100 butterfly (second, 59.58) and Savannah in the girls 100 free (second, 55.48) and 100 backstroke (second, 1:00.54).
"Savannah and Shannon did well in the 100 free and both set personal bests," Patrick said.
Rounding out Coppell's regional qualifiers were the boys 200 medley relay in fourth (Henry, Mason David, Chanin and Cantwell), boys 200 free relay in fifth (Matt Gonzales, David, Beoung Han and Alejandro Arroyo), Joanne Chu in the girls 50 free (fourth) and 100 backstroke (fourth), Chanin in the boys 100 butterfly (fourth) and 500 free (fifth), Gonzales in the boys 100 backstroke (fourth), Han in the boys 100 backstroke (fifth) and Mason in the boys 100 breaststroke (fourth).
"Joanne really stepped up in the backstroke to qualify," Patrick said. "And a couple of our relay teams weren't seeded but came through and advanced."
Coppell now shifts its attention to preparing for regionals.
"I think Hayden has a good chance to make it to state in the breaststroke," Patrick said. "He finished second in regionals and fifth at state last year, but this season he is hoping to get back to state in the breaststroke and also in the 200 IM after missing out last year. He would really like to get there in both events.
"I think our girls relay teams and Lauren in the 200 fly have a good chance, too. The kids have had a great attitude and we're excited to be moving on."
District 5-5A Championships
Friday in The Colony
Boys
1 Flower Mound, 189
2. Hebron, 93
3. Coppell, 77
4. Lewisville, 66
5. Denton Ryan, 60
6. Marcus, 45
Girls
1 Flower Mound, 201.50
2. Marcus, 106
3. Coppell, 100
4. Hebron, 58.50
5. Lewisville, 35
6. Denton Ryan, 20
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