Relaxed finale

With a pair of small Giant teams joining them in the pool, the results were never in doubt.

That allowed the Patriots a stress-free night in their final meet before the postseason.

Jay County High School’s swim teams cruised to victories Thursday over visiting Marion, with the girls team winning 213-57 while the boys posted a 204-54 triumph.

The Giants had just eight swimmers on the girls team and seven on the boys, leaving seven events uncontested.

“For the girls, it was just a good night to come out and swim, to get us geared up for next Thursday,” said JCHS coach Matt Slavik, whose team finished 12-2 and will host the sectional preliminaries at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. “I think it was good for them to come in low-key and have a good night. Marion had some good swims, but they don’t bring the numbers, so it’s good to be able to spread the kids a little bit and do some events they’re not stressed out about. I think the biggest thing is they got to have fun and not worry about having to go best times.”

The victory pulled the Patriot boys team’s record to 7-7 following an 0-6 start to the year. They won their final five meets to finish at .500.

Slavik constructed a lineup to spread the wealth Thursday as 14 Patriots recorded individual wins.

Mara Bader’s victories in the 100-yard freestyle and 200 freestyle led the girls team. Other first-place efforts came from Erica Hathaway (200 individual medley), Ashlyn Dow (50 freestyle), Rachel Louck (diving), Lilli Clemmons (100 freestyle), Rieley Brewster (500 freestyle) and Eliza Bader (100 backstroke).

Jay County will begin its quest to repeat as the sectional champion with preliminary events beginning at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

It beat runner-up Norwell by 64 points last season, but has lost to the Knights a couple of times this year. Huntington North also joins the JCHS sectional for the first time this season.

“Our overall goal for Thursday is to get everybody back on Saturday,” said Slavik. The top 16 swimmers from preliminaries advance to Saturday’s finals and consolation finals. “I think with Huntington North coming in, that’s going to make those 15th, 16th positions a lot more prized. … And I think that’s a good thing. … It’ll be a good challenge.”

Senior Chase McFarland (100 butterfly, 100 breaststroke) and junior Griffin Mann (200 freestyle, 100 breaststroke) led the Patriot boys with two victories apiece. Also adding wins were Ben Strausburg (100 backstroke), Kyle Sanders (500 freestyle), Reid Claycomb (100 freestyle), Justice Murphy (diving) and, Josh Monroe (200 individual medley).

Jay County’s boys have three weeks off before also hosting the sectional meet Feb. 20.

“Tonight was a good look for some of the boys to finalize our sectional plans,” said Slavik. “We’ll probably change a couple relays around, alter a couple events.

“Ben Strausburg made a little move. Him and Nico Minnich we’re going to adjust their events a little bit. I think they’ll be better suited to maybe have an outside shot at (scoring) at sectional.”