Dewey and Dewey, Inc.

Click to Enlarge Alexis Dewey backstrokes the length of the pool during practice last week. She could qualify for state this weekend. Bonanza Photo -Jen Schmidt Browse and Buy Tahoe Bonanza Photos

By Kyle Magin
Bonanza Staff Writer
May 9, 2008

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Brother-sister swim duo may qualify for state
The Incline High School swim team will be battling squads from across Northern Nevada in Carson City today and Saturday for the right to go to the State Championship meet next week in Las Vegas.

Swimmers must place in the top three at this weekend’s zone competition to qualify for the State meet, and coach Stefin Von Hartitzsch thinks he has a brother-sister duo up to the task. Senior Chris Dewey and younger sister Alexis Dewey have a shot to make the state meet, Von Hartitzsch said.

“Chris knows where he’s at and is working on all the little things to get ready for the meet,” Von Hartitzsch said. “And being a freshman Lexi hasn’t been too worked up about it yet, which is fine because sometimes freshmen feel a little too much pressure. The less (freshmen) think about a big meet, the better.”

Both Deweys shined at the Sierra League Championships last week in Carson City, with Alexis Dewey anchoring the first-place 200 yard freestyle relay team to a victory and Chris Dewey recording two individual second-place finishes. Both the boys and girls team took third in the six-team competition.

Von Hartitzsch said Chris Dewey will race in the 50 and 100 yard freestyle events.
“Chris definitely has a good shot at state, he swam really well last week,” Von Hartitzsch said.

He characterized Alexis Dewey’s shot at state as an outside chance, saying she could qualify in the 50 freestyle.

“It’s such a short, fast race that anything could happen, and she could wind up near the top,” Von Hartitzsch said.

Alexis Dewey led for the winning 200 freestyle relay team, which recorded a 2 minute, .94 second finish.

The first place team is made up of Alexis Dewey, sophomore Michaela Tonking, junior Jitana Alba and freshman Jordan Petrilla.

Von Hartitzsch said Alexis Dewey would more than likely lead off the relay again this weekend because of a tendency to start quickly, which could result in a disqualification at the meet.

“She just wants to go, and I worry she’ll jump too quickly if she has to follow somebody so I’m just going to have her start the race, that makes her calm down and pay a little more attention,” Von Hartitzsch said.

He said his entire team is focusing on the details of each race for the meet through shortened workouts and an increased focus on dives and turns.

“We’re definitely focused on getting a little more speed this weekend, I want everybody to peak and swim their best times of the season,” Von Hartitzsch said.
Among his swimmers who did well at the Sierra Championships were junior Kevin Donovan, who notched two second place finishes in the 100 backstroke and 200 free.

He will swim on the 200 freestyle relay with Chris Dewey and juniors Riley Warren and Nels Hansen.