MOLALLA — The La Grande swim team placed second after competition in Molalla wrapped up on Saturday, Feb. 10, for the 4A/3A/2A/1A Special District 1.

The La Grande girls ended the meet with a total of 227 points, only five points behind Pendleton’s winning total of 232 points. Cove finished seventh in the team scoring with a total of 64 points.

The La Grande boys also found a second-place showing, finishing the two days of competition with 174 points. Host Molalla took the district title with a 276-point total. Cove placed 12th in the standings.

The champions in each race qualify for the upcoming state meet automatically. The Oregon School Activities Association will name the remainder of qualifiers for the 12 lanes at a later date, after all district meets are completed.

For a team of only four swimmers, Cove will send two swimmers to the state swim meet. Becca Koza qualifies in two races after winning the 200 freestyle and after setting a new meet record in the 100 freestyle, touching the wall ahead of the competition.

She will be joined by Sarah Koza, winner of the 50 freestyle.

The La Grande bus to state will have a few more than the Cove bus as nine Tigers are state bound with a combination of individual and relay champions.

The La Grande girls team of sophomore Hannah Zamora, junior McKinley Kruse, freshman Rinnah Lynch and senior Shiloh Lynch was the lone finisher in the 200-yard medley relay under the 2-minute mark, winning the race in 1 minute, 59.54 to take the championship.

Fans will also see Rinnah Lynch in the 100-yard backstroke after taking her second win at the district meet with a time of 1:02.31.

Rinnah Lynch, Kruse, Zamora and Anica Setser then joined forces to take the district title in the 400-yard freestyle relay, an automatic qualifier for the state swim.

The La Grande boys will be represented in the distance event as junior Zane Ricker hit the ball after 5 minutes, 2.29 seconds, winning the 500-yard freestyle.

Jake Weigand makes the trip after a victory in the 100-yard backstroke and joined with Evan Zastrow, Jayden Riley and Ricker to claim the fastest time in the 400-yard freestyle relay.

The Leopards saw Becca Koza not only stand atop the podium but set a new fast time for the future as the Cove swimmer posted 52.68 seconds in the 100-yard freestyle, a new district record. She will also swim the 200-yard freestyle at the state meet after claiming her second win of the district swim.

Sarah Koza will also do double duty at the state meet after winning both the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard breaststroke in Molalla.

Additional competitors may qualify based on state district times.

La Grande

Hannah Zamora, Rinnah Lynch, McKinley Kruse, Shiloh Lynch, girls 200 medley relay

Zane Ricker, 500 freestyle

Rinnah Lynch, 100 backstroke

Jake Weigand, 100 backstroke

Anica Setser, Hannah Zamora, McKinley Kruse, Rinnah Lynch, 400 freestyle relay

Evan Zastrow, Jayden Riley, Jake Weigand, Zane Ricker, 400 freestyle relay

Cove

Becca Koza, 200 and 100 freestyle

Sarah Koza, 50 freestyle, 100 backstroke