Geoff Folsom / SpokesmanRedmond High sophomore swimmer Loryn Trail is looking for a repeat trip to the state championship meet.

Redmond High sophomore swimmer Loryn Trail is picking up where she left off last season.

Trail, 15, finished sixth in the 2015 state championship meet in both the 100-yard backstroke and 100-yard butterfly as a freshman.

Back then, she was the only member of Redmond’s girls team to qualify for state, while the boys 400 freestyle relay team also qualified.

She hopes more swimmers can join her from Redmond this year.

“I’m kind of getting over being sick, considering that I’ve been doing pretty good,” said Trail, who had been suffering from a cold, before a Jan. 21 meet in Madras. “Everybody else is doing pretty good, too. We’re getting a lot of best times.”

Trail did not race in her primary event, the 100 backstroke, in Madras, instead filling in for a teammate in the 100 fly. She ended up winning the race by 10 seconds, with a time of 1 minute, 4.2 seconds.

“I’m a filler child,” Trail joked.

She also won the 500 freestyle, helping Redmond to a second-place finish in the four-way meet behind Klamath Falls-Henley.

Trail went on to help the Redmond girls to a fifth-place finish out of 11 teams Jan. 23 at the Hood River High School Invitational.

She finished second of 23 swimmers in the 100 backstroke there, losing by 12 hundredths of a second to Hannah Roberts of LaGrande. Trail also finished fourth out of 61 contestants in the 50 freestyle.

Trail swims for the Redmond Aquatic Club Eels in the offseason. Denise Maich, her coach at Redmond High, said the offseason work has been effective.

“We’re excited to see how and what she swims at district this year,” Maich said. “She has put a lot of hours in the pool over the years swimming for the local club team, and it really shows.”

Trail plans to try to reach state again in the 100 backstroke. Her second event has not yet been determined. The district meet is scheduled for Feb. 12-13 in Bend, with state Feb. 19-20 in Gresham.

“We’ve got to scout the competition and see what the second (event) will be,” she said.

Trail views state like any other meet, except the competition is faster, she said. It also would be better to have some teammates come along.

“It’s no fun going to a swim meet by yourself,” she said. “It’s really great to go with other people. I think they can do it.”

As last year’s only individual state qualifier, Trail said it is important to encourage the other team members.

“Keep a positive attitude, and make sure they’re thinking positively,” she said. “I give lots of smiles and thumbs-up. Everybody is happy to be here, so it’s not too hard.”

Maich hopes Redmond will have boys or girls relay teams join Trail at state through a wild card spot.

“But we won’t know that until all the other 5A district meets are completed that weekend,” she said.

Redmond’s next meet is scheduled for Feb. 4 — the “R-Town” rivalry against Ridgeview at Cascade Swim Center.

Trail plans to do the best she can to make it to state four times in her career. She will still have two more chances after this season.

Trail attends Redmond Proficiency Academy, where she is a member of the Ambassador Cadre Program. According to the school’s website, the student ambassadors give tours to visitors, students and families and plan and take part in school and community events.

The transition from class at the charter school to being a member of Redmond High’s team is easy, Trail said.

“The people are really supportive on my team,” she said. “They’re very welcoming and very nice people.”

— Reporter: 541-548-2186, gfolsom@redmondspokesman.com