Wolves finish fifth at state swim meet
The Lake Hamilton Wolves placed fifth out of 16 teams at the Class 5A State Meet in Russellville. Ethan Smith garnered individual state titles in the 200yard individual medley and 500yard freestyle.
Aidans Qualls placed third in the 500-yard freestyle and fifth place in the 100-yard backstroke. Colton Barentine took ninth place in the 200-yard IM and 11th place in the 100-yard backstroke.
Zeke McCain placed 11th in the 500-yard freestyle and 16th in the 200-yard freestyle while Coby Qualls placed 11th in the
100-yard breaststroke.
In the 200-yard medley relay, the team consisting of Aiden Qualls, Coby Qualls, Smith and McCain placed fifth. The 200yard freestyle relay team of Coby Qualls, Hagen Smithwick, Peyton Speas and Barrentine placed
10th, and the team of Aiden Qualls, McCain, Barrentine and Smith took seventh in the 400yard freestyle relay.
HOT SPRINGS DOWNS CMS
On Tuesday, Hot Springs took a 19-15 win over the Lady
Eagles. Kai Griffith struck out 12 at the mound while Darnesa Hudson had two hits. Whitnei Long, Anasztazia Anderson, Natalie Robinson and Tiffany Lopez added one apiece.
GAC ANNOUNCES TRACK PRESEASON POLLS
Oklahoma Baptist was announced as the frontrunner of the women’s track and field preseason poll while the Bison tied with Harding in the men’s.
Two time GAC champion for the 1500-meter run, Tesa Potter returns for the Lady Bison as well as Emma Downing, who picked up the individual title in February’s GAC Cross Country championships.
Harding took second in the poll. Coming back for her senior year, Kinga Szarzynaska qualified in the 800-meter run in the 2018 NCAA National Championships while Emily Shell turned in a GAC Championship record for the heptathlon in 2019.
Southern Arkansas claimed the third spot while Northwestern Oklahoma State took fourth — slightly ahead of Arkansas Tech and East Central. Arkansas Tech boasts five All-GAC Cross Country performers — Calli Beshore, Morganne Browning, Aubre Gilreath, Karina Maravillas and Ashlynn Mays.
Southeastern Oklahoma State, Ouachita Baptist, Southwestern Oklahoma State and Southern Nazarene rounded out the poll. SWOSU’s Alexis Chao took the victory in the 2019 GAC pole vault competition.
For the men’s, Oklahoma Baptist has four performers with 2019 Championship titles. Hayden Ashley secured the victory in the decathlon and long jump contests while Saleem Fadel collected first place in the hammer throw. Blake Rayner crossed the finish line first in the 800-meter run as Nathaniel Worley obtained the win in the high jump.
Two time GAC champion for the javelin, Will Clark, returns to Harding for his junior season. In February’s GAC Cross Country Championships, Dylan Douglas nabbed the individual title.
SAU picked up the third place slot while East Central took fourth and Southern Nazarene fifth. East Central returns four 2021 First Team All GAC selections in a crew of Emmanuel Bett, Gilberto Palomo, Carson Sandvik and Jakaveon Shaw.
SAU hosts the 2021 GAC Championships April 15-17.
GAC WOMEN’S TENNIS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
The GAC named its fifth weekly women’s tennis award as Arkansas Tech’s Aastha Dargude earned the accolade after besting two GAC opponenents in Henderson State’s Franny Nyarko and SAU’s Serena Gill.
The freshman improved to a 5-1 record in singles play. Dargude fell in her opening set against Nyarko, but won the second set in a tie break and 6-1 in the deciding set as she garnered a three set win over Gill.
GAC GOLFERS OF THE WEEK
The GAC named SWOSU’s Megan Brown and Arkansas Tech’s Santiago De La Fuente as its fourth Golfers of the Week.
The Lady Bulldogs garnered a third place result at the Diffie Ford Lincoln invite as Brown led her team, tying in second place out of 89 players with a two round total of 8-over par 148. Brown’s starting round 3-over 73 was the second best round in the tournament.
De La Fuente collected a three shot victory at the Battle of the Belt as he started with a 3-under par 66. His second round, a 6-under 66, was the lowest of the tournament as he led Arkansas Tech to a 28-shot victory. The Wonder Boys were the only team to finish under par.
Southern Nazarene’s Bailey Akins was also considered for the women’s honor while Oklahoma Baptist’s Dakota Clark and SAU’s Caleb Miller and Josh McNulty were nominated for the men’s honor.