Heatwave swimmers end season on high note

Aaron Thompson / Special to the Home News

Boulder City-Henderson Heatwave club swim team member Alex Sigmon.

Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2009 | 8:03 p.m.

Aaron Thompson / Special to the Home News

Boulder City-Henderson Heatwave swim team member Jake Hubel, 9, waits for his round in the water during the Desert Section championships at the Dula Center community pool.

The Boulder City-Henderson Heatwave club swim team is wrapping up its short-course season, and coach Mike Polk said it has been a success.

"We did really well, and we saw some good improvements," Polk said.

The Heatwave are currently ranked 27th by USA Swimming. It finished 2008 ranked 37th, and Polk said the goal is to finish in the top 30 after the end of the long course season.

They are gearing up for the Austin Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, March 5 to 7, which signifies the start of the long course season. There are 16 swimmers traveling to Texas to represent the club.

The Heatwave will also compete in the Gold Sectionals, hosted by the Clark County Sandpipers at Desert Breeze Recreation Center pool on Feb. 28 and March 1.

"We'll send a few swimmers and some will use it as a tune-up for Texas, but that's what we're focused on right now," Polk said.

Two swimmers Polk said impressed him during the short course season are 12-year olds Cori Molisee and Melanie Harris.

"They've really taken some big steps lately, and are doing some really good things," Polk said.

At the Desert Sectionals at Dula on Feb. 21 and 22, Harris won the 100 yard butterfly in 1 minute, 4.62 seconds, and Molisee took second in the 100 backstroke in 1:06.78. Molisee was also a five-event winner at the Nevada state championships in November.

"I worked hard for that. I'm really proud of how I've done," Molisee said.

Other top performers for the Heatwave were Alex Hubel, 11, winning the girls 11- to 12-year-old division 100 IM in 1:06.17 and Sarah Estes, 10, winning the girls 10-under division 50 freestyle in 30.16 and the 200 IM in 2:43.79.

Zane Grothe, 16, led the boys side, with wins in the 100 fly (51.31), 200 IM (1:55.47), 200 fly (1:55.83) and 400 IM (1:06.64). Nicolas Lara, 10, won two events in the boys 10-under division. He took first place in the 50 back in 38.41 and the 50 fly in 35.06.

Brent Hinckley can be reached at 990-7822 or brent.hinckley@hbcpub.com.

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