Highland enjoying depth in the pool

In a sport like swimming, the more athletes you have, the more points your team can accumulate.

Highland High’s swimming talent is spread out across the boys and girls teams this season, with three different girls leading at least two events, and five boys leading at least one event, as of Nov. 27.

Girls

Alexandra Pryor, who had a pair of top-seven placings at last year’s 4A championships, leads the Rams in four individual events. Pryor is tops in the 100 butterfly (1:04.90, fifth in 4A), 200 individual medley (2:22.54, sixth), 100 breaststroke (1:15.43, ninth) and 500 freestyle (5:54.27, 11th).

Hannah Hatch and Alexandra Pynes each lead two individual events for Highland’s girls. Hatch paces the Rams in the 200 free (2:18.49, 39th) and 100 backstroke (1:13.60, 44th), while Pynes leads the 50 free (27.53, 26th) and 100 free (1:01.86, 39th). Pynes also has good showings in the 200 free (2:19.02, 40th) and 500 free (6:14.50, 30th), showcasing her versatility.

Highland’s girls finished eighth in the 4A championships last season, and are attempting to replace top swimmer Kelsey Strong, who has since graduated. Woods Cross won the girls 4A title last year.

Pryor finished fifth in the 200 IM and seventh in the 100 fly at last year’s state championships. Pynes was eighth in the 100 free and ninth in the 200 free, and Hatch was 13th in the 100 back.

Boys

Meanwhile, Joey Hayes, Benton Carter and Josh Wisenant each hold two individual top times for the Rams. Wisenant is ranked seventh in 4A in the 100 fly (58.27) and is 31st in the 500 free (5:33.70). Hayes is 23rd in the 100 free (53.09) and 25th in the 200 free (1:58.85), and Carter is 28th in the 200 IM (2:16.49) and 33rd in the 100 back (1:04.83) for the Rams.

Oliver Morgan is 13th in 4A and tops for Highland in the 100 breast (1:07.31), while Matthew Silver is 22nd in 4A and leads the Rams in the 50 free (24.08).

Other top boys times are: Carter in the 200 free (2:03.07, 41st) and 100 fly (1.41, 20th), Wisenant in the 200 IM (2:17.78, 33rd), Silver in the 100 fly (1:01.92, 28th), Hayes in the 100 breast (1:10.09, 26th) and Samuel Hatch in the 100 breast (1:11.11, 31st).

Highland’s boys finished eighth in the 4A championships last season, as Mountain Crest captured the state title. The Rams are attempting to replace James Sorensen, who transferred to Skyline.

Carter finished 12th in the 200 IM at the state championships last year, while Silver was 12th in the 100 breast, Hayes was 15th in the 100 free, and Morgan 16th in the 100 breast.