Desert Hills boys makes strong push to dethrone Park City after Day 1 of state meet
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Trixia Fisher of Stansbury competes in the Women 200 Yard Medley Relay at the high school swimming 4A State Championships in Bountiful, Friday February 9, 2018.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Ryan Bunn of Hurricane pushes ahead to a first place finish in the Men 200 Yard Free at the high school swimming 4A State Championships in Bountiful, Friday February 9, 2018.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Park City celebrates their win in the Women 200 Yard Medley Relay at the high school swimming 4A State Championships in Bountiful, Friday February 9, 2018.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Desert Hills celebrates their win in the Men 200 Yard Medley Relay at the high school swimming 4A State Championships in Bountiful, Friday February 9, 2018.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Helena Djunic of Park City swims her way to a first place finish in the Women 200 Yard Free at the high school swimming 4A State Championships in Bountiful, Friday February 9, 2018.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Payton Plumb of Desert Hills puts in a first place effort for the Men 200 Yard IM at the high school swimming 4A State Championships in Bountiful, Friday February 9, 2018.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) The many faces of encouragement as swimmers are cheered on at the high school swimming 4A State Championships in Bountiful, Friday February 9, 2018.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Swimmers compete at the high school swimming 4A State Championships in Bountiful, Friday February 9, 2018.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Matt Runnells of Mnt. View performs his ritualistic pre race water blow before his Men 200 Yard IM at the high school swimming 4A State Championships in Bountiful, Friday February 9, 2018.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Elise Weller of Park City is congratulated on her first place finish in the Women 200 Yard IM at the high school swimming 4A State Championships in Bountiful, Friday February 9, 2018.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Katie Hale of Park City, center left, checks her first place time in the Women 50 Yard Free at the high school swimming 4A State Championships in Bountiful, Friday February 9, 2018.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Elise Weller of Park City swims to a first place finish in the Women 200 Yard IM at the high school swimming 4A State Championships in Bountiful, Friday February 9, 2018.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Cade Black of Mountain Crest celebrates his first place finish in the Men 50 Yard Free at the high school swimming 4A State Championships in Bountiful, Friday February 9, 2018.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Members of the Mountain Crest swim team embrace for a prayer prior to the start of the high school swimming 4A State Championships in Bountiful, Friday February 9, 2018.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Katie Hale of Park City is cheered for her first place time in the Women 50 Yard Free at the high school swimming 4A State Championships in Bountiful, Friday February 9, 2018.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Helena Djunic of Park City is congratulated for her first place finish in the Women 200 Yard Free at the high school swimming 4A State Championships in Bountiful, Friday February 9, 2018.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) Coaches try to push their swimmers on at the high school swimming 4A State Championships in Bountiful, Friday February 9, 2018.
Bountiful • The venue has changed and the makeup of the classification is different so maybe the Class 4A boys’ swimming meet might be ripe for some new champions.
And the leading contenders may be from the south, at least on Day 1 of the state meet.
Tall and gangly Desert Hills sophomore Payton Plumb unseated Park City’s Cole Peterson in the 200-yard individual medley as the Thunder rolled into the South Davis Aquatic Center and grabbed a big lead with 121 points — 38 better than Mountain Crest and 60 more than a Park City team that has won four straight boys’ championships.
“I started doing pretty well for myself as a freshman,” Plumb said. “And I was like, ‘I can do great things.’ I’ve got the right body for it. I’m tall.
“I’ve been watching everybody. Sure, I haven’t swam with them, but Cole Peterson — the guy that finished second — I’ve been trying to find out his scores. I’ve been looking them up. I’m a stalker.”
Plumb and Peterson faced each other at last year’s Class 3A state meet. But the 6-foot-3 Plumb, who said he has grown a couple of inches since that meeting, owned the event this time around. Plumb touched in 1 minute, 56.32 seconds, better than 2 seconds ahead of Peterson (1:58.52).
The Desert Hills boys won the 200 medley relay, just edging both Juan Diego and Lehi. Plumb swam the opening leg on that relay victory.
Meanwhile Hurricane junior Ryan Bunn is 5-6 and more reminiscent of a wrestler or football defensive back. But winning at the state meet is nothing new for Bunn, who brought home titles in the 100 and 200 freestyle races last year.
He defended the 200 title by racing in with a time of 1:43.62. That was 2 seconds faster than second-place Austin Butler of Spanish Fork.
“I was scared, nervous,” Bunn said. “Just go out there and swim. It all felt good. I got a little tired there in the end, but I came out and pulled it through.
“… I just kind of go for it and do whatever is necessary.”
It’s been since 2000 that a St. George-area school has claimed a state boys’ swimming team title when Dixie brought home the title.
After the first day, Plumb’s take was clear. Individual honors aside, he was more than a little interested in the team scores.
“I’m doing this for the team because Desert Hills has never won a state championship,” Plumb said. “Until now.”
CLASS 4A DAY 1 STATE CHAMPIONS <br>BOYS <br>Team scores • 1. Desert Hills, 121; 2. Mountain Crest, 83; 3. Juan Diego, 69; 4. Cedar, 69; (tie) Park City, 69. <br>200 medley relay • Desert Hills 1:40.26 <br>200 freestyle • Ryan Bunn, Hurricane, 1:43.62 <br>200 individual medley • Payton Plumb, Desert Hills, 1:56.32 <br>50 freestyle • Cade Black, Mountain Crest, 21.54 <br>GIRLS <br>Team scores • 1. Park City, 138; 2. Desert Hills, 89.5; 3. Sky View, 74; 4. Orem, 66; 5. Snow Canyon, 59. <br>200 medley relay • Park City 1:49.05 (new 4A state record) <br>200 freestyle • Helena Djunic, Park City, 1:53.76 <br>200 individual medley • Elise Beller, Park City, 2:09.16 <br>50 freestyle • Katie Hale, Park City, 24:13
