Jay Co. shut out, three Stars make finals (02/17/06)

FORT WAYNE — For the first time in school history, no Jay County swimmer will compete in an individual sectional final. The Patriots managed to get one relay through the preliminary round and into the finals Thursday at Summit Middle School, but were shut out in individual events. Three South Adams swimmers advanced in individual championship races.

The lone top-six finish for Jay County at the meet hosted by Homestead came from the 200-yard medley relay team of Tom McCord, Josh Hawn, Joseph Vormohr and Chance Milligan. They teamed for sixth, finishing in 1-minute, 53.10 seconds.

McCord turned in the Patriots’ top individual finish as he was eighth in the 100 backstroke in 1:01.73 and will swim in the consolation finals Saturday. Then-senior Derick Lee was the lone JCHS swimmer to make the finals last season.

South Adams’ Matt Kruse turned in the top finish for his team at the meet dominate by the host Spartans. In the 100 butterfly he broke the strong-hold for Homestead — it placed three swimmers in the top six in seven of eight individual events — by placing third in 55.46 seconds.

Kruse added a fifth-place effort in the 200 individual medley in 2:07.42 and was on each of the two relay teams which qualified for the finals.

Justin Klopp finished fifth in the 100 backstroke in 59.06, and Kyle Affolder was fifth in the 100 breaststroke in 1:06.39.

In addition to his eighth-place effort in the 100 backstroke, McCord was 10th in the 100 freestyle. Also reaching the consolation finals for the Patriots were Joseph Vormohr (11th - 100 breaststroke) and Scott Walker (12th - 500 freestyle).

Klopp added an eighth-place finish in the 50 freestyle for South Adams. John Gresla was seventh in the 500 freestyle.[[In-content Ad]]