Cougars’
coach like potential despite season opening loss
Sunday,
September 12, 1999
Garden City lost
its season-opening swim meet on Thursday, 102-65, to visiting Redford Thurston.
But sixth-year coach Dale Duquette
isn’t fearful of another season like last when the Cougars failed to win a meet in 11 tries.
“All of the kids are coming to work, all are business like right now, which I haven’t had in past years,”
Duquette said. “It will reflect on how we do as a team.”
The only loss to graduation was Melissa Zarzycki, a team captain who was the Cougars’ leading scorer.
The Cougars have 22 team members, including a pair of seniors: Julie Eves and Kathryn Gfeller.
Eves swims the 50 yard and 100 yard freestyle. She won the 200 freestyle against Thurston.
She was third in the 100 freestyle and fifth in the 50 freestyle at last year’s Mega Conference White Division
meet.
“Eves does everything and does it really fast for us,” Duquette said.
Gfeller is strong in the 50 freestyle.
“Both are real good trainers and leaders for us. They do a lot of things right, and lead by example,” Duquette
said.
The Cougars also have an impressive junior, Amanda Hickman, who swims the 100 breaststroke and 200 individual medley
and may do some diving, according to Duquette.
She was sixth in the 100 breaststroke and seventh in the 200 individual medley at last year’s division meet.
“She’s just an outstanding swimmer, does an outstanding job improving her work ethic,” Duquette said.
“She’s giving Julie a good run for her money in practice. They make each other better.”
Sophomore Ann Clor is a returnee in the 100 freestyle where Duquette expects her to score at the division meet.
A freshman, Sarah Minich, had a real good meet against Thurston, finishing the 50 freestyle in 28 seconds. Sophomore
Laura Alflen swam the 500 freestyle in 7:43 against Thurston, which was a minute
and a half faster than her previous best time.
Thurston 102
Garden City 65
Thursday at Garden City
(First place finishes only)
200 medley relay: RT (Chrissi Duhl,
Nicole Goy, Cathryn Baity, Jamie Tardiff) 2:23.7; 200 freestyle: Julie Eves (GC), 2:29.7; 200 individual medley: Amanda Hickman
(GC), 2:43.79; 50 freestyle: Cathryn Baity (RT), :29.7; 100 butterfly: RT (no name available), 1:23.4; 100 freestyle: Cathryn
Baity (RT), 1:04.3; 500 freestyle: RT (no name available); 200 freestyle relay: GC (Sarah Minich, Amanda Hickman, Karin Grant,
Christy Jablonski), 2:14.5; 100 backstroke: Pearson (RT), 1:16; 100 breaststroke: Amanda Hickman (GC), 1:23.2; 400 freestyle
relay: RT (Brandi Paschal, Samantha Brand, Nicole Goy, Judy Pham), 4:58
During my freshman year I swam pretty
much nothing but the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke. I did fairly well overall during the season for it being my first season
of serious competitive swimming. I was the only freshman in the league to finish in the top 12 (qualified 7th,
finished 11th) in the 100 butterfly at the Mega Blue meet (and the only person from my team to even attempt the
event at leagues) and I was the first alternate (13th place) for the 100 backstroke. I didn’t win any medals
or break any records but I should have. My coach screwed me out of the 400 freestyle ‘A’ relay because a junior
was competing against me for the final spot. Even though I had swam the faster 50 in our 200 free relay he gave the spot to
her. That relay finished 3rd and ended up breaking our school record. As a member of the ‘B’ relay
I swam my 100 a second and a half faster than that junior. You better believe I was crushed and my dad was pissed. Thank goodness
Dale left Garden City after the girls’ season to coach Taylor Truman’s boys.
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