Columnist Spencer Patterson: Silverado swimmers looking to make waves

Spencer Patterson

Thursday, May 17, 2001 | 10:41 a.m.

Spencer Patterson covers high school sports for the Las Vegas Sun. He can be reached at 259-4085 or at spencer@lasvegassun.com.

This time, Tara Crouch isn't taking anything for granted.

Though her Silverado club is favored to capture this weekend's 4A state boys swimming championship and end Reno High's four-year title run, the Skyhawks' coach knows only too well nothing is guaranteed.

"It looks good, but you never know," said Crouch, whose squad lost to the Huskies by six points last year after finishing 18 hundredths of a second behind them in the 200 medley relay. "On paper we look like the definite winner, but lots of factors can change that."

The Skyhawks will bring 21 event swimmers (18 individual, three relay teams) into the competition, which begins Friday and concludes Saturday at the Carson City Aquatic Facility.

Silverado headliners include Kurt Cady, defending state champion in the 200 individual medley and 100 butterfly; Andy Burnett, defending champion in the 200 breast; Nick Bacharach, the 2000 state diving champion; and Jon Ewing, top seed in the 100 backstroke.

"Reno is the defending champion, and you always have to respect them, but mostly we just have to swim well," Crouch said. "We're very excited. We feel like this has been a long time coming."

Boulder City, Carson, Douglas, Durango and Bishop Gorman all figure to be in the hunt for boys team honors.

On the girls side, Carson is favored to take home its sixth straight state title and ninth in the past 10 years. Local hopefuls Green Valley, Boulder City, Bonanza, Durango and Bishop Gorman, along with Reno, are expected to battle for the other top spots.

"There's a lot more competition this year, especially with 15 kids in each event," said Silverado coach Gabe Wetmore, whose squad won both Sunrise Region championships last week. "We have more qualifiers than some other teams, but they'll be facing stiffer competition."

In most track events, the field will be narrowed from 15 to eight in tonight's preliminary races. Athletes who do not qualify for the finals cannot score points for their teams.

"Thursday is a lot bigger than people realize," said Mojave coach Lolo James, whose team captured the boys and girls state titles last season. "For our girls to have a shot, they need to reach the finals and do what they are capable of."

With the Rattler boys likely out of contention, Cimarron-Memorial, Silverado, Bonanza and Las Vegas are expected to battle northern schools Reno, Reed and Hug for this year's 4A title. On the girls side, look for Bonanza, Cheyenne, Silverado, Centennial and Green Valley to challenge Reed, Reno and Galena for the trophy.

Palo Verde will host its annual basketball camp for boys and girls in grades 3-10 June 18-21 from 1-5 p.m. daily. The entry fee is $100. For more information, call 799-1450, ext. 237...

Southern Nevada's top senior soccer players will battle in boys and girls all-star games at the Green Valley Rotary Club's Soccer Competition Saturday at UNLV's Peter Johanna Field beginning at 6 p.m.