Sappington Wins State Championship

Jack Sappington is a state champion. The senior captain led from start to finish in the 100 breaststroke to win the first boy’s individual swimming title since 1987. Sappington solidified his name amongst the elite swimmers in school history this past Saturday at the state meet in Beaverton. Swimming in lane 3, Sappington made sure there was no doubt who was the best breaststroker in the state this year. Sappington dominated the race, winning by over six seconds and setting one final school record (1:00.27) in his last race as a Cheesemaker. He did it the only way he knows how, swimming aggressively and confidently.

There has been a lot of buzz around Tillamook all season about this team. I know people have been reading and talking about Tillamook swimming locally, regionally, and statewide. The number one reason has been because of Jack. His passion and energy for swimming is contagious. He rises to all challenges and accomplished a major goal he’s been laser focused on for a year. It’s the kind of story that inspires others and shows you the talent that resides in this local community. He’s helped bring this program back to the forefront and we plan to build on the momentum he’s helped generate this year.

There were many more highlights at the state meet as well. Sappington also earned another All-State honor and a bronze medal in the 50 freestyle. He was a key leg on helping the 200 Medley Relay make the state finals where they earned All-State honors and were a finalist in 6th place. The quartet of Landon Munly, Sappington, Wyatt Swart, and Brandon Hudgeon entered the meet ranked 11th and true to form they made the relay race dramatic in prelims. Swimming in the first heat in lane 6, the Cheesemakers looked like they might only swim on Day 1. However, Swart, a freshman swimming the butterfly leg, had a spectacular leg in a two second personal best to give Hudgeon and the team a shot at finals. Hudgeon came up big again, passing a Marist swimmer and sprinting down the home stretch and out touching Molalla by 0.01. It is the smallest margin of victory you can have. Would you expect anything less from this group?

Hudgeon finished his senior season with a 9th place finish in the 100 freestyle and 11th in the 50 freestyle. Landon Munly, also a senior, had a remarkable individual race, moving up from 12th to 9th place in a three second personal best in the 100 backstroke. Munly finished his swimming career the way you want everyone to, with four personal bests in all his races at state.

It was an impressive finish to a remarkable season.