Holcomb, Wilkens advance to state

Whitehouse swimmers Natalie Holcomb and Brittany Wilkens led the Wildcat team to its best showing ever at regionals and will compete in the state swim meet on Feb. 16-17. Holcomb earned the trip to Austin, her ????, by winning first place in both the 200 yard freestyle and the 500 yard freestyle at the Region IV 4-A swim meet on Feb. 2-3.

Wilkens qualified in the 100 yard breaststroke after finishing second in the competition held at the University of Houston.

Holcomb, who also competed in the 200 yard medley relay and the 400 yard freestyle relay, was named Female Swimmer of the Meet.

With just five swimmers, the girls team placed fifth overall - only five points out of fourth place, according to Coach Scott Eeds. For the first time, the boys team was able to qualify all three relay teams for regional, with the 200 yard medley relay, comprised of Jeremy Priest, Nathan Fulps, Will Post and Phillip Shafer, receiving seventh in the finals.

"I am extremely proud of all of the hard work that the swimmers have put in this season. I am sad to see three seniors leave this year, but am looking forward to a great season next year," said Eeds. "The word is spreading about our swim team, and I hope to grow the team even larger next year."

Preliminary heats were held on Friday, with the top eight swimmers advancing to the finals on Saturday.

Results for the girls team were:

200 yard Medley Relay: Brittany Wink, Brittany Wilkens, Natalie Holcomb and Catherine Drott - Prelims: 2:08.89; Finals: 2:06.33 (DQ)

200 yard Freestyle: Natalie Holcomb - Prelims: 1:56.45; Finals: 1:55.03; first place, state qualifier

200 yard Individual Medley: Brittany Wilkens - Prelims: 2:21.08, Finals: 2:18.91; third place

50 yard Freestyle: Catherine Drott - Prelims: 32.99

100 yard Butterfly: Brittany Wink - Prelims: 1:11.37; first alternate to finals

100 yard Freestyle: Casi Eyerly - Prelims: 1:10.50

500 yard Freestyle: Natalie Holcomb- Prelims: 5:08.84; Finals: 5:05.67; first place, state qualifier

100 yard Backstroke: Brittany Wink - Prelims: 1:10.57; Finals: 1:09.74; sixth place

100 yard Breaststroke: Brittany Wilkens - Prelims: 1:10.79; Finals: 1:09.97; second place, state qualifier

400 yard Freestyle Relay: Brittany Wilkens, Casi Eyerly, Brittany Wink and Natalie Holcomb - Prelims: 4:06.16; Finals: 4:03.31; fifth place.

Results for the boyss team were:

200 yard Medley Relay: Jeremy Priest, Nathan Fulps, Will Post and Phillip Shafer - Prelims: 1:58.55; Finals: 1:59.00; seventh place

200 yard Freestyle: Jeremy Priest - Prelims: 2:33.22

200 yard Individual Medley: Nathan Fulps - Prelims: 2: 14.31; Finals: 2:17.11; eighth place

50 yard Freestyle: Phillip Shafer - Prelims: 24.43

100 yard Butterfly: Will Post - Prelims: 1:10.16

200 yard Freestyle Relay: Will Post, Dylan Davis, Jeremy Priest and Andrew Drott - Prelims: 2:03.99 DQ

100 yard Backstroke: Jeremy Priest - Prelims: 1:15.42

100 yard Breaststroke: Nathan Fulps - Prelims: 1:09.86; first alternate

400 yard Freestyle Relay: Phillip Shafer, Andrew Drott, Will Post and Nathan Fulps - Prelims: 4:02.87; second alternate