Gutierrez, Bengals round into top form

Brighton High swimming standout Long Gutierrez didn’t start posting his fastest times until early-to-mid November due to injury, but it hasn’t taken him long to get back in top form.

Gutierrez, who broke bones in both elbows during the summer, appears to be fully recovered in leading Brighton’s boys in seven of eight individual events as of Dec. 18. After concentrating on shorter distance events earlier in the season, Gutierrez has resumed his place among the state leaders.

The Bengal junior led the 100 freestyle (47.01, first in state), 100 backstroke (54.36, second), 100 butterfly (54.03, second), 200 free (1:48.76, second), 100 breaststroke (1:02.15, third), 50 free (21.98, third) and 200 individual medley (2:02.14, fourth). Trent Evans had the only other individual fast time for Brighton’s boys, leading the 500 free in 5:00.16 (sixth in state).

Meanwhile, several other Bengals were ranked within the top 20 in the state.

Tanner Wiest was fifth in the 100 fly (54.73), ninth in the 100 free (50.39) and 10^th in the 50 free (22.73) and Evans was seventh in the 200 IM (2:03.73), 11^th in the 100 breast, 17^th in the 200 free and 19^th in the 100 fly. Kyle Spicer was ninth in the 500 free (5:04.42) and 13^th in the 100 fly and 200 free.

Ryan Brinkerhoff was fifth in the 100 breast (1:03.15), while Connor Yost was 17^th in the 100 free and 19^th in the 50 free and Hunter O’Neal was 15^th in the 100 fly and 19^th in the 50 free. Carson Malen was 15^th in the 500 free, Aryan Farahani was 17^th in the 100 breast, Trick Graf was 19^th in the 500 free, and Sam Peters was 19^th in the 100 back for the Bengals.

Girls

While the Bengals might lack the star power that Amanda Barrett provided last season, Brighton has many young and talented swimmers, including freshmen Katy Daggett and Hailee Weist.

Daggett led the Bengal girls in three individual events – 500 free (5:21.09, second in state), 200 free (1:59.58, third) and the 200 IM (2:22.86, 12^th). Wiest was tops in the 100 free (57.35, 11^th).

Meanwhile, veterans Kaitlyn Overstreet, Abby Alger and Sydney Nguyen each led one or more events. Overstreet led Brighton in the 100 fly (1:01.22, third) and 100 back (1:03.48, fourth), Alger led the 100 breast (1:14.16, 10^th) and Nguyen led the 50 free (26.25, 12^th).

Several other Bengal girls were ranked within the top 20 in the state.

Anna Graf was ninth in the 500 free (5:41.53), 11^th in the 100 fly, 16^th in the 200 free and 19^th in the 200 IM, while Niki Brinkerhoff was eighth in the 100 fly (1:03.67) and 13^th in the 100 breast. Zoey Freebairn was 10^th in the 100 back (1:05.72) and 18^th in the 200 IM, Aubrey Passey was 11^th in the 100 back and Nguyen was 12^th in the 100 back.

Elsewhere, Danica Smith was 16^th in the 100 breast, Wiest was 17^th in the 50 free and Whitney Kennedy was 17^th in the 100 free for the Bengals.

The 5A state championships will be Feb. 10-11 at Brigham Young University.