JC defeats Starfires

The Patriots spread the wealth against South Adams.
Ten different athletes — five boys and five girls — picked up individual wins Monday and the Jay County High School swim teams swept the relays in a pair of victories over the visiting Starfires.
Eme Miller and Mary Hudson, both seniors, each won a pair of events to lead the Patriot girls to a 207-99 win.
“I thought it was a great swim meet,” said JCHS girls coach Matt Slavik, whose team improved to 7-1. “South Adams showed a lot of good swims ... I thought our girls swam great. They’re swimming a little tired right now. I think we’re about ready for Christmas break so we can get back in the pool (for practice) and focus on some things.”
“I’m super happy with how we swam. Our relays looked pretty solid, especially the 200 free relay again.”
Senior Alex Sutton and freshman James Keen added two wins apiece for the boys team. It was the fourth competition in seven days for the Patriots, who placed fifth at Saturday’s Norwell Invitational.
“We mixed up some things and tried to find some new events for some people ... and I think it worked out well,” said Jay County boys coach Barry Weaver, whose team won 204.5-68.5. “More than anything right now for the guys that are new to this it’s about building confidence.
“Some of the guys that aren’t in the limelight, aren’t getting first and second places, are coming along. I’m real excited about that.”
South Adams picked up two wins in both the boys and girls competitions. The losses dropped the Starfires to 5-2 and 2-3 for the girls and boys respectively.
“It was a numbers game tonight,” said SAHS coach Janelle Gresla, whose boys were competing in their fourth straight road meet. “We’re not doing bad competing. ... But we didn't’ have good swims tonight at all. I’m not happy with our swims ...
“We just didn’t look sharp tonight.”
The marquee match-up of the night came in the 100-yard breaststroke, where Hudson, a two-time state qualifier in the event, took on Starfire freshman Cady Farlow.
The race was neck-and-neck throughout, with Hudson edging Farlow by less than a second in 1 minute, 11.64 seconds.
“At Norwell I think she got surprised, even though she’s known Cady for several years,” said Slavik of Hudson, who finished second to Farlow in the event at the season-opening Norwell Invitational. “I think she was bound and determined not to get beat by a younger girl (tonight). ... That’s about two seconds faster than she was going last year at this time. …
“Cady Farlow is going to be a phenomenal swimmer for them.”
Farlow had edged Hudson at the Norwell Invitational with a time of 1:10.82. Gresla said she thought it was important for them to face off again.
“I wanted to put her up against Mary tonight because I know those two are going to battle back and forth all season,” she said. “Cady got her at Norwell, and Mary got her tonight.”
Hudson’s other win came in the 100 freestyle in a one-two finish with teammate Caitlin Mark in 1:00.18. Farlow earned one of her team’s two victories at 2:27.05 in the 200 individual medley.
Keen had one of the highlights of the evening for the JCHS boys team as he shattered the school’s freshman record in the 500 freestyle. He won the event in 5 minutes, 31.23 seconds, destroying the mark of 5:34.74 set by Brad Smith in 1991.
The freshman was also first in the 200 individual medley in 2:16.2.
Sutton’s victories came with times of 56.47 in the 100 freestyle and 2:04.61 in the 200 freestyle.
“He’s come a long way,” said Weaver of the senior captain. “He’s worked real hard at it. He’s been behind some guys ... that just kind of showed him how we do things. ... He’s really doing a nice job ...”
Sutton also joined Matt Dann, Zach James and Josh Lykins to win the 200 freestyle relay in 1:43.93. Keen teamed with Dylan Friddle, Lykins and Dann for first in the 200 medley relay in 1:55.63, and joined Wiley Young, Luke Holcomb and Friddle to win the 400 freestyle relay in 3:56.96.
Miller joined Hudson in taking a pair of events for the Patriot girls, cruising to victories in the long-distance freestyle events. She turned in a career-best time of 5:51.38 to win the 500 freestyle by more than 35 seconds, and was also first in the 200 freestyle in 2:11.12.
Hudson, Miller, Katy Smeltzer and Caitlin Mark teamed for first-place efforts in both the 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays in 2:03.66 and 1:50.31 respectively.
Smeltzer won the 50 freestyle in 26.63, and then was part of a battle with two teammates in the 100 butterfly. Jocelyn Mann won that intrasquad competition, posting a career-best time of 1:10.38 ahead of runner-up Smeltzer and third-place finisher Marissa Murrell.
“Jocelyn Mann swam through the 100 I think for the first time in four years,” said Slavik. “She was able to swim completely through the 100 and got done and said, ‘I think I could have went faster.’ ...
“It was a solid 100 instead of an 84-yard swim. That was impressive.”
Alyson Lucas, Julie Valentine, Mann and Murrell took the top spot in the 400 freestyle relay in 4:28.45.
Kara DeLong was the only winner other than Farlow for the South Adams girls as she claimed the top spot at 1:06.34 in the 100 backstroke. She was also second to Miller in the 200 freestyle and Ellie Kaverman placed second in the 50 freestyle.
Jacob Werst was the top swimmer for the Starfire boys as he won the 100 butterfly in 1:01.86 and tied Lykins for second in the 200 individual medley. Mitchel Kaverman took the 100 breaststroke in 1:12.52.
“I think Kara DeLong had a good swim for me in the 100 back,” said Gresla. “I think Cory Sank had a decent swim in the 500 free tonight. Kady Farlow had a decent swim in the IM.”
In addition to his relay effort, Young  took the 100 backstroke for the JCHS boys in 1:06.46. Zach James turned in a time of 25.51 to win the 50 freestyle.
Jay County was uncontested in the diving competition, with Rachel Vogler winning the girls with 164.25 points and Remi Arnold taking the boys with 100.65.[[In-content Ad]]