By Annika Martinez, Talon Staff Reporter

The countless hours spent at the pool, riding in cold buses, and eating gloriously large meals will all pay off this weekend for HRV’s swimmers. This Saturday, February 14th, is the team’s much anticipated district meet, described by coach Keith Ebbert as “the whole season down to one meet.” The event will be held at the Hood River Aquatic Center, and is split into preliminaries in the morning, starting at 11:00 am, and finals in the afternoon, making for a full day of swimming.

For some, this will be their first district meet. Sophomore Tyson Miller will be swimming the 50 yard freestyle, and the 500 yard freestyle events. Miller states that he is “nervous for my events- but it’ll be great” and his main goal is to get the 500, an event he has never been in, done. Freshman Courtney Casteneda has been swimming with the Hood River Swim Team for years, but this is her first year being part of the high school team. Casteneda is swimming the 50 yard freestyle, and the 100 yard butterfly, and her hope is to have a good and successful Freshman year. Casteneda also would like to give a shout-out to Junior Madelynn Vallejo for being her “MVP lane buddy.”

For the more experienced swimmers, Saturday’s meet will determine their rankings in the 5A state competition. State will be held next Friday and Saturday at the Mount Hood Community College. Junior Dhani Freeland is swimming the 100 yard backstroke and the 100 yard freestyle events. Freeland is aiming to beat the district record for the 100 backstroke. The district record is 1:03 minutes and Freeland swims it at a 1:01. Freeland also holds the district record for the 100 yard freestyle. Junior Trey Schilling is swimming in the 50 yard freestyle, and is optimistic about placing in first or second place.  Junior Jocelyn Pedrotti is swimming the 200 yard freestyle and 50 freestyle. Pedrotti wants to make it to finals and hopes to get second or third place in the district with her 200 freestyle event. Senior Caitlyn Fick is swimming in three relays and the 50 freestyle. Fick believes that her relays have “a really good chance of going to state- all of them.” Fick is very excited for this meet. Senior Kylie Webb is swimming the 200 IM, and the 100 breaststroke events. Webb holds the district record for the girls 200 IM, and anticipates that her events will make it to state.

Make this Valentines Day the best one yet by cheering on your HRVHS Eagles swim team.