Carson swim teams strong in qualifying

The Carson High boys and girls swim teams had a strong day of qualifying during Friday's preliminaries at the Northern 4A Championships at the University of Nevada.

Tara Theilemann and Kate Hardt both qualified one-two in the 100-yard and 200-yard freestyles. Hardt is seeded first and Theilemann is seeded second for today's finals in the 100 free at the University of Nevada. In the 200 free, Theilemann is seeded first and Hardt is second.

Lauren Costella is seeded first in the 500 free and second in the 200 individual medley. For Carson's boys, Justin Barber is seeded first in the 500 free and the 200 I.M.

Barber is joined in the 500 free by Kiel Costella (fourth), Adrian Zeh (fifth) and Jeff Stroup (sixth).

"To tell you the truth, the boys did really well and so did the girls," Carson coach Monica Weaver said.

Carson's other swimmers in the finals and their seeds are: 200 free -- Kiel Costella, fifth; Zeh, 11th. 50 free -- Karen Burke, fourth; Megan Keller, 11th; Jake Oxoby, 12th. 100 butterfly -- Ryan Theilemann, fourth; Kyle McAfee, 11th. 100 free - Oxoby, 13th.

500 free -- Janine Stone, 15th. 100 backstroke -- Andrew Cardinal, 14th. 100 breaststroke -- Ryan Theilemann, second; Stroup, 13th.

Carson's boys enter as the High Desert League champions, going unbeaten league dual meets. Weaver said one goal is to qualify all three girls and three boys relay teams for the NIAA/U.S. Bank 4A State Championships. The top five in each event advance to state.

Weaver said she hopes that Carson's boys can finish in the top three in zone while Reno is the favorite in the girls meet.

"It would be nice to be able to get second for the girls because I feel Reno just has the numbers."

Carson's girls are shooting for their seventh straight state title. "There's always hope," said Weaver about a state crown. "It will be tought just because we don't have the depth."