After an exceptionally challenging week of practice, the Bellefontaine Chieftain swimmers showed strength and resilience at the Bellbrook New Year’s Meet on January 3. Bellefontaine finished third overall on the boys’ side and fifth overall on the girls’ side, competing against a strong field at Bellbrook High School.
Several Chieftain swimmers recorded new personal-best times, while others stepped into new events for the first time this season, gaining valuable experience and contributing to the team effort.
Boys Highlights
The Bellefontaine boys totaled 56 team points to earn a third-place finish. Leading the way was Grady Feasel, who scored eight points with a fifth-place finish in the 50 freestyle and fifth place in the 100 freestyle. Beckham Harman followed with seven points, finishing eighth in the 50 freestyle (personal record) and fourth in the 100 backstroke.
Bellefontaine’s relay teams were also strong contributors. The 200 medley relay team of Will Myers, Cody Hudson, Grady Feasel, and Oliver Grandstaff placed fifth. The 200 freestyle relay team of Feasel, Harman, Myers, and Hudson also finished fifth, while the 400 freestyle relay team of Grandstaff, Graham Trittschuh, Landon Cook, and Harman earned a fourth-place finish.
Significant time drops on the boys’ side included Andrew Myers, who dropped 20.26 seconds in the 200 IM, Oliver Grandstaff with a 6.47-second drop in the 500 freestyle, Cody Hudson with a 6.07-second improvement in the 200 freestyle, and Landon Cook, who cut six seconds in the 100 backstroke.
Girls Highlights
The Bellefontaine girls finished fifth overall with 55 team points, led by an outstanding performance from Brooklyne Kuntz, who scored 15 points with a first-place finish in the 100 breaststroke and third place in the 50 freestyle. Maddie Ullom added six points, finishing seventh in the 100 backstroke and ninth in the 200 IM, setting a personal record in the IM.
In relay action, the 200 medley relay team of Ullom, Kuntz, Kaeleigh Flora, and Gillian Steele finished sixth. The 200 freestyle relay team of Flora, Ella Fultz, Ullom, and Kuntz placed fifth, and the 400 freestyle relay team of Clara Core, Allison Myers, Fultz, and Steele also earned a fifth-place finish.
Notable time drops for the girls included Chloe O’Chocke, who lowered her 200 freestyle time by 5.99 seconds, Ella Fultz with a 4.77-second drop in the 200 freestyle, and Leila Hammond, who cut 4.68 seconds in the 100 breaststroke.
With strong individual performances, relay depth, and numerous personal-best swims, the Chieftains left Bellbrook encouraged by their progress and poised to build momentum as the season continues.
