Renton takes fifth at districts, sends nine to state | Boys swim & dive

Published 10:11 am Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Renton took fifth at the West Central District 2A championships Feb. 12.

“We had a really nice district meet,” said Renton coach Diane Pavelin. “They responded better than I could’ve ever imagined.”

Junior Steve Sholdra again led the way for Renton with two district titles. Sholdra dominated the competition in the 500-yard freestyle with a district-record time of four minutes, 39.31 seconds. Sholdra beat the second-place swimmer by nearly 33 seconds.

Though Sholdra is a favorite to win the 2A title in the event, there’s still work to be done.

“Everybody looks at the time and thinks he’s doing great,” Pavelin said. “He and I can look at it and say there’s so much room for improvement.”

Sholdra also won the 100 breastroke with a time of 1:02.12.

Pavelin thinks Sholdra has a chance to be near to the top in the 100 breast too.

“Steve’s a racer, he’s a competitor,” she said. “When he gets in those situations, forget the times. It’s whoever can get their hand on the wall first.”

Renton’s team of Jeremy Odden, Sholdra, Aslan DaVault and Tyler Pascual finished fourth in the 200 medley relay.

The Indians (Odden, Adriel Paine, DaVault and Pascual) took fifth in the 200 free relay.

Odden finished fifth in the 100 backstroke.

Renton ended strong, when DaVault, Pascual, Odden and Sholdra teamed to take third in the 400 free relay.

The Indians are sending nine swimmers to state.