Jay boys edge Stars

Alex LeMaster was off near the corner of the pool deck hunched over a trash can.

Moments earlier he led a Patriot charge in the 100-yard breaststroke that allowed his team to tie the meet with the Starfires.

The senior and freshman Griffin Mann went one-two in the race, knotting the score at 143 apiece.

LeMaster didn’t have much time to recover. He was set to swim the meet-ending 400 freestyle relay with the team’s first win of the season riding on the race.

He gave everything he had — first into the can and then in the pool — helping the Jay County High School boys swim team clinch the relay and a 151-149 victory Monday night over South Adams.

“When we took off on the (100 breaststroke) I told everybody they have to go one-two for us to have a shot at this deal,” said JCHS coach Matt Slavik, whose girls team also beat the Starfires, 187-101.

The boys were able to come back from an early hole as its 200 medley relay team was disqualified because of a false start.

“I held back a little bit to put a stronger 400 relay together,” Slavik added. “The boys came through.

“Alex was throwing up right before the race so I didn’t know if we were going to go off. But he sucked it up, got it done and we walked away with the (win).”

LeMaster and Mann, along with Chase McFarland and Garrett Campbell, were in front wire to wire in the 400 relay for a commanding victory in 4 minutes, 9.22 seconds, more than 30 seconds faster than the top Starfire team.

“Looking at this meet, I knew it was going to be a numbers game,” said South Adams coach Andy Lehman. “We have some talented swimmers. They have some talented swimmers. Honestly I knew it was going to be a numbers game and that’s what it proved to be.”

Prior to the 100 breaststroke, South Adams — it was seventh Saturday in the Norwell Invitational, two spots behind Jay County — led 140-133. But it was LeMaster and Mann who put the home team in position for the win.

LeMaster won with a time of 1:14.67, and Mann was second in 1:19.81. Mann fought off a late surge by Curtis Sprunger but touched the wall 1.1 seconds sooner as the Patriots got their first team victory of the year.

Then LeMaster darted to the trash can.

“I have to give it up to our boys, starting (0-3),” Slavik said, noting he witnessed his team have a negative demeanor after the DQ in the first race of the day. “Give all the credit in the world to them for picking their heads back up and coming through.

“Lot of names to mention but I would say our breaststrokers have to be given credit for tonight.”

Tayler Smeltzer, Skyler Myers, Campbell and McFarland teamed to win the 200 freestyle relay in 1:40.5. Myers also won the 500 freestyle in 6:01.05.

Zach Colpaert and Kam Yoder both had a pair of victories for South Adams. Colpaert handled the freestyle sprints, winning the 50 freestyle in 22.66 seconds, and claiming the 100 freestyle in 52.89. Yoder was first in the 200 individual medley (2:23.73) and 100 butterfly (1:01.67).

Tyler Yoder scored 173.4 points to win diving, and Trey Lehman came from behind in the final 50 yards to win the 100 backstroke in 1:07.5.

Jay County’s girls scored wins in 10 of the 12 events, as three swimmers had a pair of victories each.

Erica Hathaway touched the wall in 6:00.09 seconds to place first in the 500 freestyle, and had a time of 1:11.22 in the 100 backstroke to get the victory.

Alex Bader beat the field in the 50 freestyle (24.41 seconds) and 100 breaststroke (1:11.92), and her freshman sister Eliza handled the 200 IM (2:21.77) and 100 butterfly (1:06.42) events.

Elizabeth McDowell’s time of 2:14.19 in the 200 freestyle earned her a win.

The Patriots also swept the relays.

“I can’t speak highly enough to our girls,” Slavik said. “They are in every single day. They work like crazy and it pays off when they come here to these meets.

“South Adams is a big rivalry to them. Coming in I don’t think they expected to win by how wide the margin was.”

Julia Grabau and Ashley LeFever accounted for the only Starfire victories. Grabau earned 143.55 points to win diving, and LeFever beat the field in the 100 freestyle with her tie of 54.15 seconds.

LeFever also broke her own school record in the 50 freestyle as she was runner-up to Alex Bader with her time of 24.83 seconds.

“She’s been working hard toward that this season so I’m really glad she got that,” Lehman said.