LOGAN — After the prep swimming season concludes next month, Saturday's Logan Invitational will hardly be looked upon as a classic event — far from it. All six teams from an outstanding field were swimming in their first meet since the Christmas moratorium.
In the end, it played out just like you'd expect. On the heels of a long break, the first-ever Logan Invitational afforded teams a chance to start to get back into form. The one-day event included perennial 5A power Brighton, two-time defending Class 3A champions Judge and Class 4A contender Logan.
"I hate our first meet after Christmas," said Brighton coach Todd Etherington. ". . . I don't want to be negative, but we were very average. It shows that we still have a lot to work on before region (finals)."
Led by junior Ana Agy, the Bengals easily claimed victory on the girls' side, besting Judge by 339 points to 237. Judge's deep boys' swimming team narrowly defeated host Logan, 306-299.
Agy, the Bengals' talented junior, racked up wins in the 100-yard butterfly and the 100 backstroke. She also led her team to two relay wins and garnered the outstanding girls' swimmer award.
Springville, Park City and Bear also participated in the invitational.
Judge coach Gail Meakins said her team was more concerned with its performance rather than grabbing individual wins, which the boys' team accomplished, anyway.
"We had some kids who had good swims," said Meakins, "but we also had a lot of not-so-good swims. Because of the way I am, I worry about the bad ones."
Judge's Ryan Donahoe (50 freestyle) and Ned Voytovich (100 backstroke) both picked up individual wins on the boys' side.
And as if Judge's boys needed another outstanding swimmer to bolster their team in the middle of the season, it got one. After debating whether he wanted to swim in high school, freshman Andrzej Forys decided that he did shortly after Christmas. In his first-ever high school meet, he finished sixth in the 200 individual medley and won the 100 breaststroke.
"I think he has the potential to win (at state in the breaststroke)," said Meakins. "He's a freshman who will help us in the future."
Meanwhile, host Logan managed to notch a second-place finish on the boys' side and a third-place spot in the girls' competition. The Grizzlies, who will move from 4A to 3A next season, are currently ranked No. 1 by the Deseret Morning News in boys swimming and No. 2 in girls.
Senior Tim Farmer notched individual victories in the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle. Teammate Dani Bates won in the 200 IM and 100 freestyle.
Logan coach Yolanda Bates said the meet was the beginning of her teams' final preparation before the 4A State Meet, which will be held Feb. 4-5.
"It's just polishing the last touches before state," she said. Bates added that she thought the initial Logan Invitational was successful. "Hopefully we can attract some more quality teams next year," she said.
E-mail: drasmussen@desnews.com