Regardless of expectations, they’ll all be going to the state meet in Austin late next week.
For the second straight year, AHS sophomore Alec Purdy qualified in two events for the state meet by winning a pair of medals at the regionals. Also for the second straight year, Purdy’s AHS teammate Lance Dykhouse got picked up for the state meet by finishing right behind Purdy in an event.
The most surprising, or at least newest occurrence for the AHS boys was that the 200-yard medley relay team also got picked up for state. That helped Amarillo High finish third in the team standings.
Purdy’s success was no surprise considering that he won two medals at the region meet last year as a freshman. This year he won gold in the 100 butterfly in 51.67 seconds, and took second in the 100 backstroke in 52.11, just .10 seconds behind gold medalist Zev Benjamin of El Paso. The top two finishers in each event qualify for the state meet.
Dykhouse finished third in the 100 back with a 53.48, the third fastest of the eight times who got picked up for the state meet. It’s the second straight year Dykhouse got picked up in the 100 back.
The new entry for Amarillo High at state this year will be the boys 200 free relay. Purdy and Dykhouse combined with Andres Cebrero and Wyatt Willburn to finish third in 1:30.10.
Tascosa’s Maggie Marhefka was the lone girls medalist in the meet, winning bronze in the 100 fly.