Busy weekend for area swim teams

It was a busy weekend for area swim teams.

Bellefontaine and Benjamin Logan swam in a two-day invitational over the weekend. The full meet is the largest high school swim meet in the country with events held at 11 preliminary sites in which the 16 fastest prelim swims compete at a combined finals meet in Cincinnati.

On Saturday, the Lady Chiefs did not have any finalists but saw some strong performances.

Finishing in the Top 8 was:

200 Free Relay – 5th – Joslyn Robinson, Elaina Ullom, Olivia Ullom, Morgan Henry

400 Medley Relay – 6th – Joslyn Robinson, Elaina Ullom, Morgan Henry, Olivia Ullom

Morgan Henry – 3rd 50 Free, 4th 100 Fly

Olivia Ullom – 4th 200 Free, 7th 100 Back

Joslyn Robinson – 8th 100 IM

Kate Myers – 7th 200 Free

Elaina Ullom – 7th 50 Breast

Bellefontaine girls who saw times drops:

Jai Abhyankar – 50 Breast (-1.19)

Maria Casanas – 50 Breast (-3.28)

Emma Costin – 100 Fly (-2.67)

Claire McDaniel – 50 Breast (-1.02)

Kate Myers – 200 Free (-4.29)

Joslyn Robinson – 100 IM (-2.37)

Olivia Ullom – 100 Back (-9.60)

“I appreciate our swimmers’ willingness to try new events and always give their best,” said head coach Sharon Lewis. “We saw quite a few best times today which shows we are on the right track.”

On Sunday, the Lady Chieftains had several top 8 finishes and quite a few personal best times.

Top 8 Finishes:

200 Medley Relay – 6th – Olivia Ullom, Joslyn Robinson, Kate Myers, Morgan Henry

400 Free Relay – 3rd – Olivia Ullom, Elaina Ullom, Joslyn Robinson, Morgan Henry

Morgan Henry – 5th 100 Free, 3rd 50 Fly

Olivia Ullom – 6th 100 Breast

Additional Best Times:

Jai Abhyankar – 50 Back (-2.16)

Alexis Buffkin – 100 Free (-1.84), 50 Back (-0.39)

Ashton Carey – 200 IM (-11)

Maria Casanas – 100 Free (-6.06)

Madison Christman – 100 Free (-4.78)

Emma Costin – 200 IM (-12.65), 50 Back (-2.98)

Julia Easton – 100 Free (-12.38), 50 Back (-5.43)

Kaidi Freeman – 50 Fly (-1.57),50 Back (-1.67)

Claire Grandstaff – 50 Back (-2.96)

Lilly Hudson – 100 Free (-1.32)

Claire McDaniel – 50 Back (-4.86)

Kate Myers – 100 Free (-3.09)

Gillian Steele – 50 Back (-0.32)

Maddie Ullom – 50 Back (-1.54)

“Our girls had some big drops today (Sunday) led by juniors Ashton Carey (-11), Emma Costin (-15.63), and Julia Easton (-17.81),” said Coach Lewis. “Additionally, we have been playing with our relay line-ups and have continued to see the girls step up and drop time in the relays. With such a large girls team it is sometimes difficult to get swimmers into each event we would like to see them swim – meets like this one with open entries give us an opportunity to see more of those races.”

For the Bellefontaine boys on Saturday:

400 Medley Relay – 5th – John Fulmer, Aidan Mifsud, Elias Abrego, Blake McDonald

200 Free Relay – 4th – Aidan Mifsud, Elias Abrego, John Fulmer, Blake McDonald

Elias Abrego – 5th 50 Free (PR -0.73), 5th 100 Fly

Ryan Alexander – 7th 200 Free (PR -0.38), 21st 50 Free (PR -0.40)

Nolan Core – 7th 50 Free (PR -0.25), 8th 100 Fly

John Fulmer – 7th 50 Free, 7th 100 Back

Cooper Harman – 8th 200 Free, 16th 50 Free

Beckham Harman – 14th 100 Back (PR -1.31)

Jaylen Henry – 35th 50 Free, 15th 100 Back (PR -7.83)

Cody Hudson – 32nd 50 Free, 4th 50 Breast (PR -2.01)

Blake McDonald – 5th 200 Free, 6th 100 Back

Aidan Mifsud – 6th 200 Free (-5.75), 100 Fly (-4.78)

Blaine Mitchell – 43rd 50 Free (PR -0.27), 14th 50 Breast (PR -1.86)

“The boys had some great time drops today (Saturday),” said Head Coach Sharon Lewis. “Senior Aidan Mifsud took on two events he hasn’t swum this season and his time improvements show just how much stronger he is this year. New swimmers Jaylen Henry and Blaine Mitchell also found success with big drops in their events. Our boys check in after every race, open to feedback and next steps, and it is paying off. The team competes again tomorrow on day 2 of the SW Classic.”

On Sunday for the Chieftain boys:

200 Medley Relay – 4th – Blake McDonald, Aidan Mifsud, Elias Abrego, John Fulmer

200 Medley Relay B – 8th – Nolan Core, Cody Hudson, Cooper Harman, Beckham Harman

400 Free Relay – 4th – Aidan Mifsud, John Fulmer, Elias Abrego, Blake McDonald

400 Free Relay B – 8th – Cooper Harman, Beckham Harman, Nolan Core, Ryan Alexander

Elias Abrego – 6th 200 IM, 5th 100 Breast (PR -2.44)

Nolan Core – 3rd 50 Fly

John Fulmer – 3rd 50 Back (PR -0.10)

Cooper Harman – 8th 200 IM (-5.65)

Blake McDonald – 7th 100 Free, 2nd 50 Back

Aidan Mifsud – 5th 200 IM (-0.33), 4th 100 Breast

Additional Best Times:

Ryan Alexander – 100 Free (-4.36), 50 Back (-0.31)

Devin George – 100 Free (-8.49)

Cooper Harman – 100 Breast (-6.95), 100 Free (-2.57)

Blaine Mitchell – 100 Free (-9.25)

Jaylen Henry – 100 Free (-1.69), 50 Back (-1.89)

Cody Hudson – 200 IM (-3.09)

“Our boys made a strong push over this two-day meet. We were able to try swimmers in a lot of different events and continue to find balance across the board,” said Coach Lewis. “I am proud of their continued drive to improve. Cooper Harman led the team improvements today hitting personal bests in each of his events dropping a combined 15 seconds throughout the day. The team next competes on Tuesday, 1/17 in their final home meet of the season.”

The Benjamin Logan swim team also competed in the Southwest Classic. The Raiders didn’t advance any finalists but swam to many Prs.

For the Lady Raiders on day one:

Winnie Bodin – 13th 100 IM

Allison Moore – 14th 200 Free, 9th 100 Fly

Annika Chappell – 26th 50 Free, 13th 100 Back

Liberty Hays – 30th 50 Free, 18th 100 Back

Brooklyn Horner – 40th 50 Free, 21st 100 Back

Carolina Habacher – 79th 50 Free, 17th 50 Breast

Kelly Forsythe – 27th 200 Free, 30th 100 Back

Nora Kopus – 66th 50 free

Rylie Anderson – 80th 50 free

400 Medley Relay (11th) – Brooklyn Horner, Annika Chappell, Allison Moore, Liberty Hays

200 Free Relay (12th) – Allison Moore, Annika Chappell, Liberty Hays, Winnie Bodin

200 Free Relay (26th) – Brooklyn Horner, Rylee Anderson, Nora Kopus, Kelley Forsythe

The Raider boys:

Luke McKenrick – 4th 200 Free, 7th 100 Back

Robert Leezer – 9th 50 Free, 5th 200 Breast

Liam Sweeney – 25th 50 Free, 10th 100 Fly

Utah Coleman – 9th 200 Free, 28th 50 Free

Jerrik Stephens – 15th 200 Free, 31st 50 Free

Landon Braddock – 18th 200 Free, 18th 100 Back

Taavo Simovart – 23rd 200 Free, 19th 50 Breast

Carter Daniels – 41st 50 Free, 14th 100 IM

Finch Hone – 47th 50 Free, 15th 50 Breast

Dylan Vance – 53rd 50 free

400 Medley Relay (5th) – Luke McKenrick, Robert Leezer, Liam Sweeney, Utah Coleman

400 Medley Relay (11th) – Landon Braddock, Taavo Simovart, Jerrik Stephens, Carter Daniels

200 Free Relay (6th) – Robert Leezer, Utah Coleman, Liam Sweeney, Luke McKenrick

200 Free Relay (14th) – Carter Daniels, Dylan Vance, Finch Hone, Landon Braddock

For Benjamin Logan on day two:

Top 10 Finishers for the girls:

200 Medley Relay (9th) Annika Chappell, Winnie Bodin, Allison Moore, Liberty Hays

Liberty Hays – 50 Back (10th)

Top 10 Finishers for the boys:

200 Medley Relay (6th) Luke McKenrick, Robert Leezer, Liam Sweeney, Utah Coleman

Robert Leezer – 100 Breast (6th)

Luke McKenrick – 100 Free (7th), 200 Back (6th)

Landon Braddock – 200 IM (10th)

400 Free Relay (8th) Luke McKenrick, Landon Braddock, Liam Sweeney, Robert Leezer

Special mention to Carter Daniels for dropping a combined 11.64 seconds in the 100 Free and 100 Breast, Finch Hone for dropping a combined 15.07 seconds in the 100 Free and 50 Fly, and Dylan Vance for dropping 4.41 seconds in the 50 Back.

Annika Chappell and Brooklyn Horner each dropped time in the 100 Free (3.49 and 4.06 respectively) for the girls.

Benjamin Logan will celebrate senior night Tuesday at the Hilliker YMCA when they compete against Bellefontaine and Indian Lake.

You can purchase your tickets here.

Both the Indian Lake varsity boys and girls swim teams took first place Saturday in a meet held in New Carlisle.

First-place finishers for the Lady Lakers:

200 Yard Medley Relay team of Grace Pequignot, Paige Mefford, Lily Jenkins, and Annie Braig

Paige Mefford in the 200-yard freestyle and 100-yard freestyle

Ashlynn Biederman in the 50-yard freestyle

Lily Jenkins in the 100-yard butterfly

200 Yard Freestyle Relay team of Lily Jenkins, KaiLea Miller, Ashlynn Biederman, and Annie Braig

400 Yard Freestyle Relay team of Grace Pequignot, Paige Mefford, Lily Jenkins, and Annie Braig

First-place finishers for the Laker boys:

200 Yard Medley Relay team of Chris Gilligan, Mason Beres, Brant Parsell, and Grant McPherson

Grant McPherson in the 50-yard freestyle

Brant Parsell in the 100-yard freestyle and 100-yard breaststroke

Chris Gilligan in the 100-yard backstroke

400 Yard Freestyle Relay team of Grant McPherson, Mason Beres, Chris Gilligan, and Brant Parsell.

Team Champ swimmers competed in a meet at the Champaign Family YMCA in Urbana Friday against Marysville, Jonathan Alter, Urbana, Fairbanks, and Columbus Hamilton Township.

The West Liberty-Salem girls were 4th, Graham placed 5th, and Mechanicsburg took 7th.

In the girls’ competition, the finishers were as followed:

Graham:

200 Medley Relay – Jordan Monaghan, Grace Smith, Nora Uhl, and Eliza Blosser – (3:00.05) 6th

200 Freestyle – Tiffany Carter (2:59.88) 8th

50 Freestyle – Hannah Volp (34.37) 13th, Nora Uhl (35.04) 15th, Grace Smith (38.11) 17th, and Eliza Blosser (47.57) 21st

100 Freestyle – Jordan Monaghan (1:18.87) 10th, Hannah Volp (1:19.03) 11th, and Tiffany Carter (1:21.86) 12th

500 Freestyle – Nora Uhl (8:49.54) 3rd

200 Freestyle Relay – Jordan Monaghan, Tiffany Carter, Nora Uhl, and Hannah Volp (2:24.83) 7th

100 Backstroke – Jordan Monaghan (1:31.50) 11th and Eliza Blosser (2:08.92) 14th

100 Breaststroke – Grace Smith (1:38.02) 8th

Mechanicsburg:

50 Freestyle – Alekah Daniels (26.51) 1st, Kendall Rausch (41.27) 19th, and Bailey Stapleton (41.85) 20th

100 Freestyle – Alekah Daniels (59.25) 1st and Bailey Stapleton (1:36.35) 13th

100 Backstroke – Asher Daniels (1:44.33) 10th

100 Breaststroke – Kendall Rausch (1:39.20) 9th

West Liberty-Salem:

200 Medley Relay of Tina Douthwaite, Lilly Smith, Lydia Schmidt, and Laney Craig (2:31.81) 5th

200 Freestyle – Lilly Smith (2:30.21) 4th and Laney Craig (3:00.23) 9th

50 Freestyle – Lydia Schmidt (33.39) 10th

100 Freestyle – Tina Douthwaite (1:11.82) 1st and Lydia Schmidt (1:18.85) 6th

500 Freestyle – Laney Craig (8:05.26) 2nd

200 Freestyle Relay – Tina Douthwaite, Lydia Schmidt, Laney Craig, and Lily Smith (2:14.09) 5th

100 Breaststroke – Lilly Smith (1:28.32) 6th

For the boys, Graham was 5th and West Liberty-Salem came in 6th.

Graham:

200 Freestyle – Caleb Owens (2:24.84) 4th and Braden Bost (2:33.36) 7th

50 Freestyle – Jack Boggs (24.78) 2nd, Malachi Teets (32.64) 10th, Weston Helman (35.05) 13th, and Tyler Shefbuch (38.56) 14th

100 Freestyle – Jack Boggs (56.36) 3rd, Caleb Owens (1:03.83) 6th, Weston Helman (1:23.63) 14th, and Tyler Shefbuch (1:26.93) 15th

500 Freestyle – Thomas Neff (6:13.67) 1st

200 Freestyle Relay – Caleb Owens, Braden Bost, Weston Helman, and Tyler Shefbuch (2:08.88) 5th

100 Backstroke – Braden Bost (1:26.97) 6th

West Liberty-Salem:

200 Freestyle – Peyton Hull (3:04.55) 11th

50 Freestyle – Kam Hissong (31.13)8th

100 Freestyle – Kam Hissong (1:19.25) 10th and Peyton Hull (1:14.96) 11th

For the combined team scores Graham was 4th, West Liberty-Salem finished 6th, and Mechanicsburg took 8th.