Sophomores Laura Epperson and Abbie Young had a busy Valentines Day in the swimming pool, winning two individual titles apiece and adding more points on two winning relays as the girls’ team won the PIL championship at Matt Dishman Center.

The girls scored 122 points, winning seven of 11 events, including all three relays, and outdistancing second-place Grant by 59 points. The boys were second with 63 points behind Grant, who had 76 points.

First-place finishers in individual and relay events automatically qualify for the state meet, scheduled for Feb. 20-21 at Mt. Hood Community College. According to assistant coach Kara Wendel, “We might have a few more kids who have times that will place them at state, too, but we’re waiting to hear.”

Epperson and Young started off the district meet with legs of the 200-yd. medley relay, which finished in 1:54.35. Other team members were junior Emmy Daigle and senior Kesiah Clements.

Thirty minutes later, Epperson came back to win the 200-yd. freestyle in 2:00.76, more than five seconds faster than second-place finisher Sadie Wiens of Franklin.

But Epperson wasn’t done. She also won the 100-yd. butterfly in 1:00.88 before resting up for a leg of the 400-yd. freestyle relay that won in a time of 3:56.34, nearly eight seconds faster than second-place Grant.

Also on the winning relay were sophomores Carli Tovar and Eleanora Kemp, who earlier joined her sister Laurel and Clement to win the 200-yd. freestyle rely in 1:46.11, just .16 seconds ahead of second-place Franklin.

Young had an equally blue-ribbon day. In addition to swimming legs of two winning relays, she also claimed victory in the 100-yd. backstroke (1:00.93) and the 500-yd. freestyle, taking first in that event by 18 seconds over Wiens.

Senior Jackson-Locke Harris was the sole event winner for the boys, taking charge of the 200-yd. individual medley and edging out Sam Harquail of Grant by .19 seconds. Lock-Harris placed third in the 100-yd. butterfly and swam a leg of the 200-yd. medley relay that was second in 1:46.73.

Chalking up third-place points were senior Dan Forsland (50-yd freestyle – 22.42, 100-yd. free – 50.70), and junior Bayley Guy (500-yd. free – 5:33.96). Freshman Preston Kill (5:41.38) took third in that event. Forsland, who qualified for state in the 50 free, also swam legs on all three relays.

“I felt really good about my races, but I have a lot of room to improve,” Forsland said. Swimmers who made it into the state competition will be having specialized training to help them prepare. “I’m hoping to work on my turns since that’s one of my current weaknesses,” Forsland said.

Complete results of the district meet may be found at http://www.osaa.org/docs/bsw/6ADistrictResults.pdf