The Valhalla High School swim and dive team was looking forward to a season of strength and best times, according to coach Steena Harriman.
“Prior to COVID-19, the team had already achieved times that were set at the end of last season,” Harriman said.
Led by seniors Erik Nordquist and Taylor Moultrie, the Norsemen were ready for a season of excellence before it was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Valhalla competed in two league dual meets before the season ended prematurely. The Norsemen defeated host Steele Canyon on March 5, then lost to Granite Hills on March 12.
Freshman Rachel Munch, sophomores Eli Mohr and Jack Forstot, along with Moultrie and Nordquist, were undefeated in their specialty events.
Nordquist did swim against Steele Canyon senior Trevor Moore in the teams’ dual meet, though both swam the butterfly stroke in the 100-yard freestyle event in a fun match-up of seniors headed to the U.S. Naval Academy.
Moore won.
Fast lane
Moultrie finished first in the 100 backstroke (1:06.28) and second in the 100 butterfly (58.77) to lead the VHS girls on the day in the dual meet against Granite Hills.
Mohr scored an individual double in winning the boys 200 freestyle (1:53.69) and 500 freestyle (5:11.21) against the Eagles while freshman Alexander Golu won the 100 backstroke (1:07.48).
Mohr and Golu set sail with sophomores Connor Audette and Forstot to win the boys 400 freestyle relay in 3:57.57.
Moultrie, Nordquist, Munch, Stallard, Mohr and Forstot all posted team-leading times in the dual meet against Steele Canyon.
Moultrie timed 1:01.69 on her lead-off backstroke leg in the 200 medley relay, then timed 1:00.78 in the girls 100 butterfly and 1:02.69 in the 100 backstroke.
Nordquist posted team-leading times in the boys 50 freestyle (24.01) and 100 freestyle (58.94).
Munch timed 2:16.30 in the girls 200 individual medley and 1:10.01 in the 100 breaststroke.
Stallard timed 2:23.42 in the 200 freestyle.
Mohr posted team-leading times of 1:51.09 in the boys 200 freestyle and 5:01.76 in the 500 freestyle.
Forstot timed 2:12.81 in the boys 200 IM, 1:02.31 in the 100 butterfly and 52.75 in his leg in the 400 freestyle relay.
Junior Olivia Zamudio finished first in six-dive competition against both Granite Hills and Steele Canyon with scores of 236 and 235.95 points, respectively.
Sophomore Jordan Alstad finished second to Zamudio in both meets with scores of 212.70 and 189.95 points.
Like many things this spring, life will have to take a pause before it moves forward again.
“We wish the best of luck to our seniors and we look forward to our season next spring,” Harriman said.
Student-athlete profiles:
Abigail Stallard
Sports: Water polo and swim
School activities: ASB class treasurer (two years), ASB executive secretary, water polo (four years), swim (four years), Safe School Ambassador
Proudest moment: “Winning league in 2018 with swim.”
Future plans: Attend the University of San Diego
Brielle Roesch
Sports: Cross Country, water polo, swim
School activities: NorseCrew leader, president of Sandy Hook Promise Club for one year, CSF, Choir, cross country (four years), water polo (three years), swim (three years), track and field (one year)
Awards: Team captain of cross country (three years), most improved, best defense, most motivational, most inspirational, spirit award, scholar athlete
Proudest moment: “Finishing third for my girls cross country team at league finals after coming back from a torn meniscus injury the year before.”
Future plans: Attend Washington State University (Pullman) studying pre-physical therapy
Caitrin Hansen
Sports: Water Polo and swim
School activities: Co-editor-in-chief for our school’s yearbook (The Ragnarök), participated for both water polo and swim for four years, varsity swim for three years and varsity water polo for two years
Awards: Athletic-Scholar award, water polo team captain, most improved player for water polo and swim
Proudest moment: “Winning league champs my sophomore year even though we only had 12 girls.”
Future plans: Attend college in the fall and study to become a veterinarian
Erik Nordquist
Sports: Water polo and swim
School activities: Four-year varsity athlete in water polo and swim, Valhalla Athletic Leadership Group, Safe School Ambassador, Every 15 Minutes participant
Awards: Varsity captain water polo as a senior, first team all-league in water polo as a junior and senior, offensive player of the year in water polo (junior), most valuable player in water polo (senior), Grossmont Hills League champion in water polo (freshman and sophomore), second team All-CIF in water polo (senior), first team all-league in swim (freshman, sophomore, junior), Grossmont Hills League champion in the 200-yard freestyle (sophomore and junior), Grossmont Hills League team champion in swim (freshman, sophomore, junior), CIF swim participant (freshman, sophomore, junior).
Proudest moment: “My proudest moment was my last year of high school during our second game in CIF against Poway when our team came together and won a great game against a tough team.”
Future plans: Erik will play water polo for and attend the United States Naval Academy in 2021 after completing a post-graduate year at the Hill School in Pottstown, Pa.
