Friday, May 24, 2013

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PREP SWIMMING: Dallas' Jerusha Dressel not wasting any time in return to pool

DALLAS -- After she spent four months in France on an exchange trip and out of the pool, Dallas swimming coach Jeff Bemrose wasn't sure what type of impact Jerusha Dressel would have this season with the Dragons.

Dallas' Jerusha Dressel, pictured here at the 2012 Class 5A swimming state championships, broke the school record in the butterfly last week.

Photo by Pete Strong

Dallas' Jerusha Dressel, pictured here at the 2012 Class 5A swimming state championships, broke the school record in the butterfly last week.

Itemizer-Observer staff

January 23, 2013

DALLAS -- After she spent four months in France on an exchange trip and out of the pool, Dallas swimming coach Jeff Bemrose wasn't sure what type of impact Jerusha Dressel would have this season with the Dragons.

Smashing the school record in the 100-yard butterfly wasn't a bad way to show what the senior is still capable of.

"Usually, swimmers don't come back that quickly," Bemrose said. "But that's her fastest time ever in that event - to come back from not swimming for four months and to get a butterfly record, that's pretty uncommon."

Dressel took second in the event with a time of 1:06.04 at a Mid-Willamette Conference matchup with Crescent Valley Jan. 15.

She also placed first in the 100 breaststroke (1:13.71) and helped the 200 medley and 400 freestyle relay teams to first-place finishes as Dallas was just edged by Crescent Valley, 90-80.

"I think she's just more relaxed," Bemrose said of Dressel's quick re-emergence. "When they're training so much, they're pretty tense. It was good for her to take some time off."

Elizabeth Dressel, Jerusha's younger sister, was the only other Dragon to win an event with her first-place finish in the 100 backstroke (1:13.71). Dressel, a freshman, is 3 seconds away from breaking the school record in the event.

"If we can get her a little stronger in the water, she'll break that record in the backstroke," Bemrose said.

For the boys, Jesse Genualdi, Kalon Schmidt and the 400 freestyle relay team of Genualdi, Schmidt, Colton Ragan and Michael Osborn all took firsts in a 109-44 loss to Crescent Valley.

Genualdi swam a time of 2:27.68 to win the 200 individual medley and Schmidt finished the 100 breaststroke in 1:11.64 to win the event.

Class 4A

CENTRAL COMPETES AT PHILOMATH: Matt Stanger won two events and helped the 200 freestyle relay team to a win to lead the Central boys swimming squad to a second-place finish at Thursday's five-way meet at Philomath. Stanger finished first in both the 50 freestyle (24.69) and the 100 freestyle (55.02) and joined Nathan Glade, Matthew Grandquist and Rahevin Potter-Clark in the 200 freestyle relay to finish with a time of 1:40.88. For the girls, Franki Cable placed second in the 100 freestyle (1:08.03) and the 400 freestyle relay team of Carlee Hasbrook, Catie Miller, Kate Taylor and Sabrina Cedillo finished second (4:58.25) to lead the Panthers to a third-place team finish.

DALLAS INVITATIONAL

When: Thursday, 4 p.m.

Where: Dallas Aquatic Center.

Teams: Dallas, Central, Blanchet, Junction City and Philomath.