Two for tankers

Adding a second opponent Tuesday doubled the success for the Patriots.

Jay County High School’s swim teams each picked up a couple of wins, with the boys taking first place in each of the first six swimming events en route to victories of 135-117 over the South Adams Starfires and 144-118 over the Muncie Central Bearcats.

The Patriot girls dropped just one event all night as they clobbered South Adams 162-87 and Muncie Central 160-97.

The meet was originally scheduled as a dual against the Bearcats. The Starfires were added to the festivities after their Dec. 16 meet against JCHS was canceled because of inclement weather.

The Patriot boys (4-7), who opened the season 0-6, set the tone for their double victory in the 200 medley relay. South Adams’ Zach Herman had the lead for his team on the opening backstroke leg, but Jay County’s Griffin Mann pulled ahead on the backstroke. Kyle Sanders expanded the home team’s lead on the butterfly leg and Reid Claycomb finished off the six-second victory in 1:52.82 with Muncie Central a distant second.

Sanders later gave the Patriots a three-second lead on the opening leg of the 400 freestyle relay. South Adams rallied, but McFarland, Claycomb and Mann were able to hold on to win by 0.49 seconds in 3:46.29.

Sanders also picked up individual wins with times of 2:18.84 in the 200 individual medley and 1:01.78 in the 100 butterfly.

Mann also had a pair of victories, taking the 50 freestyle by 0.51 seconds over Trey Lehman of South Adams in 24.28. He trailed the Starfires’ Isaac Gorrell by 0.04 seconds midway through the 100 freestyle but pulled ahead by the 75-yard mark and won by 0.48 seconds in 56.06.

McFarland took the top spot in the 200 freestyle by nearly 10 seconds in 2:09.66 with Claycomb in second place.

Ralph Link added a victory by nearly three seconds with his time of 1:12.69 in the 100 breaststroke.

Ashlyn Dow and the Bader sisters powered the JCHS girls to their victory with two wins apiece. Dow dominated both of her events, winning the 200 freestyle by seven seconds in 2:10.2 and the 100 butterfly by 13 seconds in 1:04.81.

Eliza Bader’s first-place efforts came in the 100 freestyle in 58.07 and 100 breaststroke in 1:13.44.

Mara Bader posted winning times of 1:10.85 in the 100 backstroke and 26.56 in the 50 freestyle.

The Baders and Dow teamed with Erica Hathaway to win the 200 freestyle relay in 1:46.8. Hannah James, Lilli Clemmons, Rieley Brewster and Mara Bader took the top spot in the 200 medley relay in 2:06.41, and Hathaway, Clemmons, Dow and Eliza Bader were first in the 400 freestyle relay in 4:00.12.

The Patriots went one-two in diving with Rachel Louck (144.6) edging teammate Mikale Knight (144.15) for her first career victory.

Hathaway won the 500 freestyle by more than 20 seconds in 6:03.94.

McFarland was second for the Patriot boys in the 100 backstroke. Adding third-place finishes were Claycomb (100 freestyle), Josh Monroe (500 freestyle, 100 breaststroke), Konner Sommers (200 individual medley) and Justice Murphy (diving).

Hathaway was also the runner-up in the 100 backstroke, and Elayna Paro was second in the 200 individual medley. Placing third for Jay County were Kearsten Myers (100 butterfly), Clemmons (200 freestyle), Brewster (200 individual medley, 500 freestyle), James (100 freestyle) and Paro (100 breaststroke).

Jay County will swim at home again Friday as it hosts the Allen County Athletic Conference Championships. Diving will begin at 5 p.m. with swimming to follow at 7 p.m.