Busted by Bellmont (01/05/07)

The Patriots had their share of positives as they started the 2007 portion of their schedule after more than two weeks without a meet. Unfortunately, the final score didn't fall into that category.

The Jay County swim teams both fell to Bellmont Thursday, the boys by a 162-142 score to the Braves and the girls by a 164-141 final to the Squaws.

"It's nice to have some kids back in the water that we haven't had in the water for a while," said JCHS boys coach Barry Weaver, mentioning Sam Miller and Scott Walker. "They're doing some real positive things. Unfortunately, it didn't come out positive on the scoreboard."

Victories were evenly split with each team picking up six wins, but Bellmont's depth prevailed. The Braves took first and third in two of the three relays and earned nine of a possible 12 third-place finishes. The Squaws were second in 7-of-12 events and third in 7-of-12 as well.

Jay County's boys (1-6) won four of the first six events and still had a 106-014 lead with four to go. But the Braves took the 200- and 400-yard freestyle relays and pushed to the win.

Junior Tom McCord was the lone double winner for the Patriots, taking both of his events by solid margins. He dominated the 200 individual medley to win by more than seven seconds in 2-minutes, 25.31 seconds. He had just a slim lead at the mid-point of the 100 backstroke, but pushed his advantage for a first-place finish by more than three seconds in 1:02.32.

McCord also kicked off Jay County's only winning relay, teaming with Lance VanSkyock, Aaron Hudson and Sam Miller for a time of 1:54.23 in the 200 medley relay.

Steven Kelly and Sam Miller each powered one-two finishes for the Patriots.

Kelly easily won diving, scoring 168.75 points. Teammate Donny McCowan was second with 158.05.

Miller seemed bothered by the knee injury which had kept him out of several meets, gliding in to the wall to complete JCHS's relay win. But, he showed no ill effects as he dove in from lane eight for the 100 butterfly.

He was in control from the start as he powered to a finish in 59.2 seconds, the best of his high school career. Hudson was second in 1:03.38.

"It's hard not to look at Sam Miller with a 59 100 fly," said Weaver as he listed the top performers for his team. "He's got that attitude that he wants to swim. He wants to get in and do it. It's good to have Sam back in there."

Hudson added the other Patriot victory easily in the 100 breaststroke. He won by nearly nine seconds with a career-best time of 1:09.18.

Weaver praised Hudson along with freshman Jared Valentine, who put up career-best times in both the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle.

"Some of the young kids had some really nice swims tonight," Weaver said. "We're getting some guys who are just starting to figure it out."

Returning from a shoulder injury, Walker also posted a career-best time in the 200 freestyle for second place, and was the runner-up in the 500 freestyle as well.

The individual wins for the Jay County girls all came consecutively, with sophomore Cori Vormohr and freshman Michelle Landfair trading triumphs back-and-forth.

Vormohr kicked off the run of Patriot victories in the 200 individual medley, where she finished in 2:19.54 for a win by more than 15 seconds. Then it was Landfair's turn as she put together another strong finish for a win the 50 freestyle by just 32 hundredths of a second over Jamie Basham of the Squaws in 28.01.

In the 100 butterfly it was Vormohr again, putting up a season-best time of 1:02.64 to win by nearly five seconds. Landfair led a one-two finish in the 100 freestyle, extending her lead in the second 50 yards for first place in front of teammate Tina Gingrasso in 1:02.81.

The string of wins had Jay County within 14 points, and sparked a team meeting prior to the 200 freestyle relay.

"We talked about each person down the line beating their counterpart on Bellmont's team," said JCHS girls coach Bev Arnold. "We knew that the latter part of the meet we could start picking up some points. We also knew to get that done we had to be no less than first and third in the 200 free relay."

The Jay County team of Vormohr, Landfair, Gingrasso and Briann Saxman took that relay in 1:52.47, but Bellmont thwarted a possible comeback by swiping second and third places.

"The girls didn't give up though," said Arnold. "That's one thing I'm really, really proud of. They get in there and try hard."

Vormohr, Gingrasso, Saxman and Christa Castillo picked up the other JCHS win in the final event of the night, posting a time of 4:17.16 in the 400 freestyle relay.

Ashley Horn was second in both the 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle with career-best times in both. Saxman had career-bests in both the 100 butterfly and 200 individual medley, finishing third in both of those events.

Despite the loss, which dropped the team to .500 at 5-5, Arnold said it was a good meet following 18 days off during the holidays.

"I was anxious to see if we worked them too hard or if the work paid off," said Arnold. "And for the most part, it paid off.

"Ashley Horn and Briann Saxman, definitely with their two bests (stood out). Kelci Reed and Lauren Murrell both had bests in the IM.

"Those girls that have been here for everything, (the work) definitely paid off."[[In-content Ad]]