Davis wins diving title


The Altus Bulldogs swimming and diving teams completed a successful weekend in Oklahoma City.

The boys swim team won the State Academic Championship for the highest grade point average (3.859).

The girls team was second to Edmond North with a 3.888 GPA.

Altus also swept the diving competition. Jesse Davis, a freshman at AHS, was the second state champion in school history. Davis scored 342.35 on 11 dives.

Mark Wood was second with a 297.10. Michael Chaki took third place with a score of 262.70. Joshua Marsh was fifth with a 240,90 and E.J. bacon was eighth with a 207.85.

“I was so proud of the divers,” coach Linda Wiginton said. “This was their first trip to the state competition, but they were able to stay focused and performed well.”

The 200-meter medley relay team of Eric Lundgren, Dallas Wiginton, George Gross and Michael John placed 16th with a time of 1:41.00. The 200-meter free relay comprised of John, T.J Wood, Lundgren and Gross also placed 16th with a 1:41.79. The 400-meter relay was also 16th with a time of 3:46,71. Reddick was 22nd in both the 200 free style (2:02.49) and 500-free (5:34.38). Gross swam the 100 butterfly in 1:01.10 for 23rd. Lundgren was 26th in the 100 backstroke with a time of 1:03.79.

Justina Violette had a 15th place finish in the 100 back stroke with a time of 1:08.57. Danielle Hammonds was 10th in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:19.65. The girls 200 medley relay team placed 17th. Violette, Hammonds, Restorff and Chelsea Raine had a time of 2:11.28. The 400 freestyle relay was 17th with Violette, Hammonds, Rainey and Samantha Mason compiling a time of 4:20.30. The girls 200 freestyle relay team comprised of Rainey, Hammonds, Linda Nolley and Allison Legrand was 26th with a time of 1:59.15

“I would like to thank my assistant coach, Stefan Seifried, Mr. Rick Roop (athletic director), Mr. Mark Haught (AHS principal) and the administration for their continuing support of the AHS swimming and diving program,” Wiginton said. “We hear horror stories about schools not having a pool, having to rent a pool, or having to drive 30 minutes daily to practice. We are so fortunate to have our own facility.

“We also want to thank our parents for their continued support and loyalty. They always provide so much for us during the season, such as cheers, drinks, snacks and team-bonding meals. We could couldn't do as well without them.”