BC gridiron stars shine in the pool too

Mona Shield Payne / Special to the Home News

Boulder City football players and seasonal swimmers Spencer Sasarita and Jeremy Smith, right, take their talents into the water playing an integral part in the Eagles’ 9th straight boys’ undefeated season.

By Ray Brewer (contact)

Thursday, May 14, 2009 | midnight

Jeremy Smith is one of the top athletes at Boulder City High.

His performance this spring for the Eagles' swimming team has helped confirm that claim.

Smith, a senior and arguably the school's top football player, has become a valuable part of the swimming team despite entering the season with little experience.

Smith, who was on a youth swimming team briefly in elementary school, regularly scores points in the 50 freestyle, 100 breaststroke and on a pair of relay teams.

Boulder City went undefeated for the ninth straight season this spring and coach Sara Carroll credits seasonal swimmers for providing the depth that helps them secure crucial points each meet. The group of seasonal swimmers is led by Smith, who also led the football team in receiving last fall and started on the state championship basketball team.

"Everyone on the team has been really supportive," Smith said. "It's been a pretty awesome experience."

Smith is not the lone performer from another sport giving the Eagles a boost.

Football player and wrestler Spencer Sasarita also scores points in freestyle races. He joined the team as a freshman to stay in shape for other sports and has developed into a serviceable performer.

"I joined (the team) because I heard it was fun," said Sasarita, who took third at state wrestling in February at 145-pounds. "I didn't realize that it would be a full body workout. You can build a lot of endurance through training in swimming."

Carroll raves about the contributions of the duo. Also, basketball player Caiti Forrester joined the girls team this spring for the first time and scores points each meet. Forrester will play college basketball at Colorado State-Pueblo next year.

"It has been really rewarding to work with them," Carroll said. "You can really see the improvements they have made. They are good athletes and not afraid of working hard. When they feel discomfort, they can push through that."

Boulder City's boys and girls will compete in the Sunrise Regional meet on May 16. Carroll thinks the boys team, naturally with the help of Smith and Sasarita, has a legitimate chance to win the region.

"Their strength is their desire," Carroll said. "I'm so proud of them. They always do two events and they always place. They will not win at regionals but they will score for us."

Smith, who caught 22 passes for 366 yards and four touchdowns for the football team, is using the workouts to help him prepare for college football. He said he will play for Colorado School of Mines and calls swimming the perfect compliment to the weight training exercises he does earlier in the day.

"It's great cross training. My arms and chest are sore afterwards," Smith said of swimming.

Ray Brewer can be reached at 990-2662 or ray.brewer@lasvegassun.com.