WATER FRIENDS: The Bixby High School swim teams include: front, from left: Amy Kaiser, Nikki Rubey, Samantha Eggers, Rachael Cantrell and Melissa Brown. On the blocks, from left: Caleb Gorrell Jeremy Deibert (Captain), Nick Edmoundson. Standing, from left: Joshy Brubaker, Kyle Flaugher, Seth Brisbin, Sevannah Vekas, Kaitlin, Jackson, Averi Edwards, Lauren Hill, Emilee Cook and Patty Walsh. Back, from left: Matt Barnett, Ethan Dumas and Connor Eaves. Members not pictured are: Kristi Augustine, Andrew Fitzgerald, Garrett Horton, Natalee Cook and Ariel McCormic.
JOHN W. BARHAM for GTR Newspapers
Head Swimming Coach Stacy Villucci is in her tenth year as the aquatics director at Bixby High School. She was the assistant coach for six years and has served as head coach for the past four years. Jarred Doubravba is in his fourth year as assistant coach and pool manager.
“When this pool was being refurbished, I would come and swim,” says Villucci. “The swimming program was starting, and I wanted to be a part of the program. After receiving my WSI (Water Safety Instuctor), the school hired me as the aquatics director in March of 1998. I love people and wanted to be a part of this program.”
The Bixby swimming team is young but that isn’t slowing down Villucci’s hopes for the season.
“This is the best team we have had since I have been here,” she says. “They have the best work ethic.”
The team only includes two seniors: Caleb Gorrell on the boys team and Kristi Augustine on the girls team.
Both boys and girls teams are presently in the top eight in the state. Augustine, the lone senior on the girls team, is ranked eighth in her two individual events, the 200-meter and 100-meter free style. She has already qualified for the state meet
Lauren Hill is in the top eight in the 100-meter breaststroke and freshman Sevannah Vekas is in the top eight in the individual medley and the 100-meter backstroke. In addition, Averi Edwards, Samantha Eggers, Nikki Rubey and Patty Walsh are on the relays that have been in the top eight in the state.
On the boys team Andrew Fitzgerald has been in the top eight in his individual races, the 100-meter free style, 200-meter individual medley, 100-meter butterfly and 200-meter free style. In the relays, Jeremy Deibert, Nick Edmoundson, Gorrell and Garrett Horton are also on the relay teams.
The girls’ team placed first and the boys’ team placed third in the Harrah Invitational. At the Ft. Gibson Invitational, the girls placed first and the boys placed second.
