Lobo Swimmers Make Big Splash At Senior Farewell Meet
     By Randy Hogan, Staff Writer  ~ ~ The Monahans News, January 24, 2006

The Monahans swim team got a glimpse of what they can expect from district competition last Saturday, as the Loboes tested the waters with long time rivals Pecos and Fort Stockton in a tri-meet at the Pecos High School pool.

The Monahans Ladies made the biggest splash, capturing first place at the Senior Farewell Swim Meet held in Pecos last weekend, edging the meet host Eagles by 12 points.  Fort Stockton picked up only 33 points.

On the men's side Pecos ran away with the title by amassing 174 points, Fort Stockton recorded 68 points, and Monahans finished with 59.

"We were scheduled to swim in Lubbock, but Pecos and Fort Stockton agreed to this meet with us instead," Coach Jay Thomas said.  "It worked out for all of us, as the district meet is just a week away."

The Monahans, Pecos and Fort Stockton tri-meet allowed MHS an opportunity to tune up for the district meet this weekend at Big Spring.

The Loboes compete in a very competitive district that includes Abilene Wylie, Andrews, Big Spring, Fort Stockton and Pecos.

Coach Thomas was pleased with the overall effort of the team, and expects a dog fight at district competition too. 

"It will be highly competitive in the girls division," Thomas said. "Andrews and Pecos will both challenge us for the title."

Pecos is the favorite on the boys side of the district, but anything can happen with a title on the line.

"Pecos is very strong again, and Andrews will be tough too," Thomas said. "We have our work cut out for us, but we will make a push."

The Monahans girls 200 yard medley relay team of Catherine Cutbirth, Lacey Nichols, Abbi Meek, Alex Dycus won first place with a time of 2:12.56.

The Lobo boys team of Jeremy Brown, Corbin Shawn, Justin Dominguez, and Chase Cornelius finished third in their 200 yard medley relay with a time of 1:59.85.

In the girls 200 yard freestyle event, Aimee McBride finished  second with a time of 2:39.71, and Alex Dycus finished third at 2;40.58.

Justin Spinks brought home second place in the boys 200 yard freestyle, recording a time of 2:02.53.

Abbi Meek finished second in the girls 200 yard IM with a time of 2:44.76.

In the boys 200 yard IM, John Ray took second with a 2:28.21, Jeremy Brown recorded a 2:28.92 for fourth place, and Justin Dominguez finished sixth with a 2:44.17.

Monahans dominated the girls 50 yard freestyle, as Catherine Cutbirth claimed first place with a 27.09.  Candace Cutbirth finished second with a 29.88, and Lacey Nichols took third with a 30.71.  Camilla Cutbirth finished sixth with a time 35.74, and Kristi Watson recorded a 37.38 for seventh place.

In the boys 50 yard freestyle, Reed Bowman finished in fourth place with a 25.13.  Chase Cornelius took sixth place with a 27.42 and Noel Ice recorded a 27.95 for seventh.

John Ray lead MHS in the boys 100 yard butterfly with a fourth place finish on a time of 1:07.82.  Jeremy Brown took home sixth place with a 1:13.79. 

Once again, the Ladies owned the girls 100 freestyle, as Rachel Shrauner led the Green with a time of 1:08.78 for second place.  Candace Cutbirth claimed third with a 1:09.65, Alex Dycus was fifth with a 1:13.39, Rebekah Oyerbides finished sixth with a 1;16.31, and Kristi Watson brought home eighth place with a time of 1:26.20.

Justin Dominguez recorded a 1:03.05 for the Lobo men in the boys 100 Yard freestyle, good enough for fourth place.  Corbin Shawn finished eighth with a time of 1:06.31, and Chase Cornelius claimed tenth place with a 1:10.24.

In the girls 500 yard freestyle, Aimee McBride recorded a 7:10.11, to secure third place.  Lyndsay Chowning finished fourth with a time of 7:51.67.

Justin Spinks finished the boys 500 yard freestyle in third place with a time of 5:32.76.

The Monahans girls 200 yard freestyle relay team of Rachel Shrauner, Alex Dycus, Candace Cutbirth and Lacey Nichols won the event with a time of 2:02.75, blistering second place Pecos who came in with a 2:11.74.

The Monahans 'B' team of Lyndsay Chowning, Camilla Cutbirth, Aimee McBride, and Rebekah Oyerbides finished fourth in the event with a time of 2:14.82.

The Lobo men's 200 yard of John Ray, Corbin Shawn, Reed Bowman, and Justin Spinks finished third in the boys relay with a time of 1:48.38.

Catherina Cuthbirth won first place in the girls 100 yard backstroke with a time of 1:12.14, blasting Pecos swimmer Cassandra Mata who finished with a 1:14.14.

The Monahans girls dominated the 100 yard breaststroke event, claiming three of the four places.  Rachel Shrauner finished second with a 1:22.41, Lacey Nichols finished third with a 1:26.08, and Rebekah Oyerbides finished fourth with a 1:49.61.

Reed Bowman took home third place in the boys 100 yard breaststroke with a time of 1:10.62, and Corbin Shawn  finished seventh with a time of 1:20.62.

In the final girls event of the meet, the Monahans Ladies 400 yard freestyle relay team of Abbi Meek, Candace Cutbirth finished second behind Pecos (4:29.95) with a time of 4:30.94.

The Monahans men's 400 yard freestyle relay team of Jeremy Brown, John Ray, Justin Spinks, and Reed Bowman also finished second with a time of 3:59.78.

District competition runs January 27-28, with 12 pm starts each day.  Prelim's will run Friday, with the Finals beginning Saturday.

Keyed by Jennifer Ray, Senior