Tigersharks open strong

The Carson Tigersharks didn't look like a team that hadn't spent much time in a 50-meter pool during the opening long course meet of the season.

Despite having just one workout in a 50-meter pool, many Tigersharks turned in outstanding efforts on the opening night of the Intermountain Classic on Friday at the Carson Aquatic Center. There are 377 swimmers entered in the meet mostly from Northern Nevada and Northern California that lasts through Memorial Day.

In addition, the David Douglas swim team from Oregon has made its annual trek to Carson and Denver's Brighton Bulldogs are also competing in the meet.

The marque race of the night was the 400-meter individual medley that featured two college swimmers, Texas A&M's Jenni Stratton and Lauren Costella, the former Carson Tigershark and Carson High graduate, who is coming off her junior year at Stanford. Stratton won the race in 5 minutes, 13.29 seconds while Costella was second in 5:15.15.

Costella and the Tigersharks' Abby Niehoff went 1-2 in the 800 freestyle with Costella winning and Niehoff taking second in 9:42.12. Barbara Perkins also had a strong race, finishing in 10:12.78.

Also for the Tigersharks, Kevin Dyer won the men's 800 free in 9:18.63. In addition, Matt Grunert was second in the men's 400 I.M. in 5:20.97.

The Tigersharks' younger swimmers had impressive efforts as well. Jessica Fahrenbruch finished fourth in the 11-12 girls 200 I.M. in 2:59.35 and Chloe Hearn had an excellent effort, finishing in 3:09.28. In the 11-12 boys 200 free, Tim Grunert dropped 20 seconds off his time in finishing in 2:44.95 and Jacob Branco had an excellent effort, finishing in 2:52.08.

Arnold Flores also had an excellent night, dropping his times in all of his events. "I'm very happy," Tigershark coach Gaby Phalen said. "I thought that their swims were really good for the first meet of the season. They younger kids, they all did fantastic."