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The Grand Island swimming team finished its season in ideal fashion Saturday as all three of its competitors in the Nebraska state high school championships recorded career-best times.
Leading the way was Ariel Lahowetz, who placed sixth in a time of 1:01.76 in the championship finals of the 100-yard backstroke. The time bettered the senior's preliminary mark of 1:02.03 and broke her own school record in the event.
Lahowetz also became the program's first female swimmer to medal since 2006 when Anne Rittmueller took fourth in the 500 freestyle.
"It was a good way to go out for Ariel," Grand Island coach Brian Jensen said. "We knew that she had to get out fast and get the lead to have a chance to win. She just couldn't keep up in that first 50 yards, but she finished strong and it was a very good effort."
Grand Island's Davin Jameson rallied back for a seventh-place finish, winning the consolation finals in the 100 breaststroke. The senior improved his preliminary time of 1:03.84 and his finals time of 1:02.53 was actually the fourth-best of the day, beating three swimmers in the championship finals.
Jameson's time in the event was also the best for a boys swimmer in the program's history with the exception of Scott Usher, who went on to swim in the 2004 Olympics.
"We joked that he had to beat an Olympian to break the school record, but Davin was pretty pleased and I think he felt a lot better today than he did in the prelims and it showed," Jensen said. "The competition in his event was very close and I think he was a little disappointed not to medal, but his time may help him get a look from some colleges."
Miranda Vlach-Buller placed ninth in the 500 freestyle in a time of 5:24.24. That performance bettered the freshman's preliminary time of 5:28.45, moved her up three spots and made her the top freshman in the event.
"I think Miranda finally really figured it out today and that's going to be a big help for her in her future years at state," Jensen said. "There's pain involved with distance swimming and she was finally able to swim through that threshold."
Grand Island finished 16th in the final girls team standings with 13 points, while Hastings tied for 20th with 5. Millard West beat Omaha Marian 298-213 for the team title.
The G.I. boys wound up tied for 19th (seven points), while Hastings was 23rd (four points). Omaha Creighton Prep easily outdistanced Lincoln East 310-209.5 for the boys team title.
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