While they didn't make the finals, the Phoenix boys' 4x100 freestyle relay team made a memorable splash at the OSAA State Swimming Meet on Friday. The Pirate team of Devin Hawn, Eli Cruise, Makaio Potts and River Delco swam a season-best time of 3:54.51 in the 4A preliminary round at the Tualatin Aquatic Center outside of Portland. The effort was two seconds better than the group's previous best time. The top eight teams in two prelimary heats advanced to the finals. Hawn is the only senior in the group. Delco and Potts are both sophomores and Cruise a freshman.

The Phoenix boys' 4x100 relay team had to play the waiting game! Eventually, the Pirates received their reward, earning a spot in the OSAA State Swimming Meet at the Tualatin Hills Aquatic Center later this week. The Pirate team of Devon Hawn, Eli Cruise, Makaio Potts and River Delco finished fourth in Saturday's finals at the Daugherty Aquatic Center in Cottage Grove. Their time of 3:56.88 was over a 10-second drop from their preliminary heat a day earlier and landed them a wild card spot in the field at Friday's state meet in the Portland area. While the quartet advanced, the Pirates came up just short in several other events. The PHS boys finished sixth in the team standings while the girls were eighth overall. Delco, a sophomore, was fourth in the 50 freestyle (25.11 seconds) where teammates Hawn and Potts were ninth and 10th int he finals. Potts added an eighth-place finish in the 100 butterfly (1:08.57). Sophomore Laurelin Jansen had the top finish for the Phoenix girls, placing fourth in the 100 backstroke (1:15.38).  The girls' 4x50 freestyle relay (Jansen, Emily Montoya, Rowen Wiley and Ariah Potts) finished seventh in 2:04.42. The same quartet was also seventh in the 4x100 freestyle relay (4:44.88). Also for the girls, senior Morgan Miles placed eighth in the 200 IM, finishing in 3:34.02.

The Phoenix swim teams turned in another strong meet on February 3, closing their regular season with a multi-team event at Cottage Grove. The Pirates, who return to the same pool for the district swimming event this weekend, got wins from sophomores Laurelin Jansen and Makaio Potts to lead the way. The Phoenix boys were third in a closely-contested five-team race, finishing just 11 points behind winner Cottage Grove. Meanwhile, the girls were fourth overall.   Cottage Grove Feb. 3 Team Scores Boys: 1. Junction City 92, 2. Cottage Grove 89, 3. Phoenix 81, 4. Cascade Christian 49, 5. Reedsport 1 Girls: 1. Cottage Grove 95, 2. Junction City 93, 3. Cascade Christian 64, 4. Phoenix 34, 5. Reedsport Phoenix Results Boys’ 200 Medley Relay: 4. Jackson Cook, Nathan Faulkner, Logan Frazier and Cody Martin, 2:25.79; 5. Luis Vargas, Sean Donohue, Morgan Buckmaster and Nash Wellbaum, 2:55.64 Girls’ 200 Freestyle: 3. Emily Montoya, 2:35.86 Boys’ 200 Freestyle: 3. Orlando Contreras, 2:32.40; 6. Morgan Buckmaster, 3:22.07 Girls’ 200 IM: 3. Morgan Miles, 3:29.00 Boys’ 200 IM: 2. Eli Cruise, 2:53.68; 3. Sean Donohue, 3:04.67 Girls’ 50 Freestyle: 6. Laurelin Jansen, 29.81 Boys’ 50 Freestyle: 2. River Delco, 26.08; 4. Devon Hawn, 26.86; 5. Makaio Potts, 27.43 Boys’ 100 Butterfly: 1. Makaio Potts, 1:10.62; 5. Logan Frazier, 1:33.42 Girls’ 100 Freestyle: 7. Ariah Potts, 1:09.91 Boys’ 100 Freestyle: 6. Devon Hawn, 1:02.13; 7. Eli Cruise, 1:02.16 Girls’ 500 Freestyle: 4. Emily Montoya, 6:56.18 Boys’ 500 Freestyle: 4. Orlando Contreras, 7:00.57; 6. Kael Feeley, 7:40.17 Girls’ 200 Freestyle Relay: 5. Emily Montoya, Morgan Miles, Riley Sage and Laurelin Jansen, 2:16.40 Boys’ 200 Freestyle Relay: 2. Eli Cruise, Devon Hawn, Makaio Potts and River Delco, 1:48.85; 6. Sean Donohue, Orlando Contreras, Kael Feeley and Cody Martin, 2:06.48 Girls’ 100 Backstroke: 1. Laurelin Jansen, 1:16.96; 6. Addison McConnell, 1:32.45 Boys’ 100 Backstroke: 7. Jackson Cook, 1:44.75 Girls’ 100 Breaststroke: 5. Morgan Miles, 1:47.90, 6. Riley Sage, 1:51.96 Boys’ 100 Breaststroke: 3. River Delco, 1:18.05; 7. Sean Donohue, 1:33.16 Girls’ 400 Freestyle Relay: 4. Emily Montoya, Morgan Miles, Riley Sage and Laurelin Jansen, 5:07.91 Boys’ 400 Freestyle Relay: 2. Eli Cruise, Devon Hawn, Makaio Potts and River Delco, 4:03.63; 4. Logan Frazier, Nash Wellbaum, Kael Feeley and Orland Contreras, 4:52.95

The Phoenix 400 Freestyle Relay team finished a three-team meet at the Medford YMCA in style on January 28, closing the event with a victory. The team consisted of Makaio Potts, Eli Cruise, Devon Hawn and River Delco and covered the course in 4:11:.47 seconds for the lone Phoenix victory of the event, which also included South Medford and St. Mary's. The same team finished second in the Boys' 200 Freestyle Relay.  Potts added a second-place finish in the Boys 100 Butterfly while Delco was second in the 100 Breaststroke. Senior Emily Montoya paced the Phoenix girls, finishing second in the 500 Freestyle. The Pirates return to action on Friday when they travel to Cottage Grove for a meet.    South Medford Jan. 28 Medford YMCA Phoenix Results Girls’ 200 Medley Relay: 3. Phoenix. 3:01.17 Boys’ 200 Medley Relay: 4. Phoenix. 2:32.16; 5. 2:54.95 Girls’ 200 Freestyle: 4. Emily Montoya, 2:35.45; 6. Morgan Miles, 3:30.04 Boys’ 200 IM: 3. Eli Cruise, 3:01.64; 4. Sean Donohue, 3:10.15 Girls’ 50 Freestyle: 4. Laurelin Jansen, 30.43; 5. Ariah Potts, 30.43; 9. Rowen Wiley, 32.39; 16. Riley Sage, 35.15; 19. Addison McConnell, 37.97; 22. Genesis Orozco, 40.48; 25. Evelyn Villa Ortega, 1:07.06 Boys’ 50 Freestyle: 3. River Delco, 25.94; 7. Makaio Potts, 27.85; 13. Jaxon Moser, 31.31; 14. Nash Wellbaum, 31.33; 19. Kael Feeley, 32.18; 22. Nathan Faulkner, 33.28; 26. Brayden Winters, 36.08; 27. Luis Vargas, 37.03; 28. Jeremiah Hawn, 37.73 Boys’ 100 Butterfly: 2. Makaio Potts, 1:11.47 Girls’ 100 Butterfly: 9. Evelyn Villa Ortega, 2:29.28 Boys’ 100 Freestyle: 3. Devon Hawn, 1:01.54; 6. Eli Cruise, 1:05.27; 9. Nash Wellbaum, 1:13.47; 10. Jackson Cook, 1:19.89; 11. Brayden Winters, 1:21.44 Girls’ 500 Freestyle: 2. Emily Montoya, 7:02.64, 3. Laurelin Jansen, 7:22.08 Boys’ 500 Freestyle: 3. Orlando Contreras, 7:02.33, 6. Kael Feeley, 7:58.88 Girls’ 200 Freestyle Relay: 3. Ariah Potts, Emily Montoya, Rowen Wiley and Laurelin Jansen, 2:09.346. Morgan Miles, Addison McConnell, Genesis Orozco and Evelyn Villa Ortega, 3:03.84 Boys’ 200 Freestyle Relay: 2. Makaio Potts, Eli Cruise, Devon Hawn and River Delco, 1:49.20; 6. Orlando Contreras, Jaxon Moser and Kael Feeley, 2:06.75 Boys’ 100 Backstroke: 5. Jackson Cook, 1:40.24 Girls’ 100 Breaststroke: 6. Riley Sage, 1:53.31; 7. Morgan Miles, 1:53.62; 8. Genesis Orozco, 1:55.21 Boys’ 100 Breaststroke: 2. River Delco, 1:16.78; 6. Orland Contreras, 1:28.50; 7. Jeremiah Hawn, 1:32.08; 8. Nathan Faulkner, 1:32.12; 9. Sean Donohue, 1:33.50 Girls’ 400 Freestyle Relay: 3. Rowen Wiley, Riley Sage, Emily Montoya and Laurelin Jansen, 4:58.06 Boys’ 400 Freestyle Relay: 1. Makaio Potts, Eli Cruise, Devon Hawn and River Delco, 4:11.47; 4. Logan Frazier, Nash Wellbaum, Kael Feeley and Orlando Contreras, 4:59.06

The Phoenix swimming teams are continuing to make some waves! The Pirate boys finished second in the Skyline Conference Invitational at the Grants Pass YMCA on Jan. 21. Meanwhile, the girls were fourth as a team on the day. PHS grabbed second in the boys' 200 medley relay while River Delco was second in the 200 freestyle. Orlando Contreras was third in the same event. Delco added another second in the 50 freestyle while Laurelin Jansen was second in the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke. Makaio Potts finished second in the 100 butterfly and Emily Montoya was third in the 500 freestyle.The boys capped off the day by finishing second in the 400 freestyle relay while the girls were third. Phoenix returns to action on Jan. 28 when it will take part in a meet at the Medford YMCA.   Skyline Invitational Jan. 21, Grants Pass YMCA Team Scores Boys: Klamath Union 107, Phoenix 63, Henley 60, Hidden Valley 42. Girls: Klamath Union 101, Henley 81, Hidden Valley 45, Phoenix 39, Mazama 9. Phoenix Results Girls' 200 Medley Relay: 3. Phoenix, 2:33.64; Boys' 200 Medley Relay: 2. Phoenix, 2:123.50; Girls' 200 Freestyle Relay: 5. Emily Montoya, 2:39.11; Boys' 200 Freestyle Relay: 2. River Delco, 2:15.62; 3. Orlando Contreras, 2:32.80; Girls' 200 IM: 5. Morgan Miles, 3:36.55; Boys' 200 IM: 4. Eli Cruise, 2:59.93; Girls' 50 Freestyle: 6. Rowen Wiley, 31.92; 11. Riley Sage, 34:44; 16. Addie McConnell, 38.03; 26. Evelyn Villa Ortega, 1:06.38; Boys' 50 Freestyle: 2. River Delco, 26.83; 7. Makaio Potts, 28.32; 8. Devon Hawn, 28.41; 15. Eli Cruise, 30.05; 16. Nash Wellbaum, 31:52; 22. Morgan Buckmaster, 36.04; 23. Jeremiah Hawn, 36.94; 24. Luis Vargas, 39.63; Girls' 100 Butterlfy: 2. Laurelin Jansen, 1:27.92; Boys' 100 Butterfly: 2. Makaio Potts, 1:09.22; Girls' 100 Freestyle: 8. Rowen Wiley, 1:20.54; 13. Genesis Orozco, 1:30.36; 21. Evelyn Villa Ortega, 2:28.97; Boys' 100 Freestyle: 4. Devon Hawn, 1:02.94; 9. Kael Feeley, 1:13.26; 10. Nash Wellbaum, 1:13.54; 14. Logan Frazier, 1:16.50; 15. Morgan Buckmaster, 1:21.76; 16. Jackson Cook, 1:22.77; Girls' 500 Freestyle: 3. Emily Montoya, 7:10.50; Boys' 500 Freestyle: 2. Orlando Contreras, 6:59.39; Girls' 200 Freestyle Relay: 5. Phoenix, 3:04.84; Boys' 200 Freestyle Relay: 4. Phoenix, 2:06.37; Girls' 100 Backstroke: 2. Laurelin Jansen, 1:17.26; 10. Addie McConnell, 1:38.62; Boys' 100 Backstroke: 8. Jackson Cook, 1:45.821; Girls' 100 Breaststroke: 13. Morgan Miles, 1:50.67; 14. Riley Sage, 1:58.84; 15. Genesis Orozco, 2:20.09; Boys' 100 Breaststroke: 5. Sean Donohue, 1:34.10; 10. Jeremiah Hawn, 1:39.14; Girls' 400 Freestyle Relay: 3. Phoenix, 5:06.05; Boys' 400 Freestyle Relay: 2. Phoenix, 4:12.01.  

A pair of Phoenix swimmers won events for the Pirates at recent meets. Sophomore Makaio Potts was the top placer in the 100-meter Butterfly at a three-team event in Coos Bay on January 12. Potts turned in a time of 1:08.65 to set the pace in the meet, which also included local schools Marshfield and North Bend. Orlando Contreras added a third-place finish in the 500 Freestyle (7:08.98) while River Delco was third in the 50 Freestyle (26.59). Two days later, Delco set the pace in the annual Henley Freeze in Klamath Falls. He finished first in the 50 Freestyle (25.85) and second in the 200 Freestyle (2:17.15) to highlight the Phoenix effort. Laurelin Jansen led the Phoenix girls, placing third in the 100 Butterfly (1:54.60) while Potts placed third in the 200 Freestyle (2:30.25) and 100 Butterfly (1:09.34). The Pirates return to action on Jan. 21 when they travel to Grants Pass for a Skyline Conference meet. 

The youthful Phoenix swimming teams got their feet wet in December....literally.   Consisting of mostly freshmen and sophomores, the Pirates toured the state for early-season meets while also turning in a strong series of practices over the holiday break to prepare for the drive toward the post-season.   "Most of our competition has come from larger schools from around the state," first-year Pirate coach David Ford said. "The team has performed great."   On December 9 the Pirates were in Grants Pass, taking part in a meet hosted by Hidden Valley High School. The boys placed fourth as a team while the girls were fifth. Meet highlights for the boys included Makio Potts finishing second in the 100 backstroke, River Delco third in both the 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly, Eli Cruise fourth in the 100 freestyle, Orlando Contreras fifth in the 200 freestyle and Devon Hawn fifth in the 100 freestyle. For the girls, Laurelin Jansen was fifth in the 100 freestyle and Emily Montoya fifth in the 500 freestyle. Phoenix kept the road trip going, heading to the Newport Invitational on December 10. The girls finished sixth and the boys seventh in the team competition. Jansen finished fourth in the 100 backstroke and Montoya fifth in the 500 freestyle to pace the ladies. For the gents, Delco was fourth in the 200 free and Potts fourth in the 100 butterfly. The Pirates were back in Grants Pass on December 16 for a three-team meet with the host Cavers and South Medford. Delco was second in the 200 freestyle and fourth in the 100 breaststroke, Janes third int he 50 freestyle and fourth in the 100 breaststroke, Potts third inthe 100 butterfly and fifth in the 50 freestyle, Orlando Contreras fourth in the 500 freestyle and Hawn sixth in the 100 backstroke. Phoenix returns to action on January 12 when it travels to Coos Bay for a dual meet with Marshfield before venturing the Klamath Falls on January 14 for the Henley Freeze.