BEAR RIVER HIGH – By Justus Wise – Headliner Sports Editor, December 15, 2021
The Bear River High School coed swim season has been in full swing now for over a month and the season has proven to be a successful one with several swimmers getting personal bests and others already ranked in state.
The Bears dove headfirst into the season at the Ridgeline Invite on October 29, that included the swim teams from Box Elder High, Ridgeline High and Mountain Crest High. Bear River barely squeezed out a third-place clench with Mountain Crest being one point behind in fourth place.
Kelton Marshall, a senior at Bear River High, has been one of the standout swimmers this season, according to Coach Danny Esplin. Marshall took sixth overall in the 50 free and 100 fly with Keeghan Gibbs, another Bear River High standout senior, close behind in 10th place. Garrett Griffin excelled in the 100 free with a fourth-place spot and sixth in the 200 free. Jonah Dean, a junior, took third in the 200 individual medley and fifth in the 500 free.
Next, the Bears ousted Ogden High and Logan High to clench the second-place spot at Fremont High School on November 5. Bear River put on an absolute clinic with Marshall taking first in both the 50 and 100 free, Gibbs taking first in the 100 back and Dean taking first in the 100-breaststroke event.
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The Bears then took their talents to their home pool as they faced off against the ole’ Jordan High School Beatdiggers on November 16. Despite eight first-place finishers for Gibbs, Marshall and two from Dean. Adding to the list includes junior Hayden Swain-Schmit and three from the relay team. Unfortunately, the Bears were defeated 197-182.
Just two days later on November 18, the Bears faced off against three other teams in the South Summit High quad and took first with 911 total points. The Bears, busier than ever, went to the Layton Surf n Swim Invitational on November 20, where they faced off against some of the best swim teams in the state and took third overall with 323 points.
Next up, the Bear River swim team traveled to Park City on December 4, for an invitational where they took second place with a total of 323 points with excellent times had by all and swimmers completely eviscerating PR’s.
On December 7, the Bears hosted Viewmont High for a 186-147 win and with four Bear River swimmers taking the best times of the night. This momentum, however, was not meant to last for the Bears as they went head-to-head with Sky View High on December 9, in their first Region 11 meet. The Bobcats would claim victory, 237-100.
The Bear River High swim team hosted Bonneville High School on December 14, with yet another victory, this time 115-55.
After winter break, the Bears will return to the pool on January 6, against Region 11’s Ridgeline High in Millville.
Photos by Lexi Capener and courtesy of the Bear River High School yearbook staff
