Jay County tankers score big wins over Bruins (01/25/06)

HARTFORD CITY — Jay County’s swim teams each got just what they wanted at Blackford Tuesday.

The girls squad clobbered the host Bruins 146-34, giving them a chance to end the season the same way they started it — with back-to-back wins. The boys managed their second victory of the year, blasting Blackford 126-47.

It was a dominant night for both teams as they each won 11 out of 12 events. The girls team swept the top three spots in nine of those victories, led by two wins from freshman Briann Saxman.

“All the way through we were right there, close to our best,” said JCHS girls coach Bev Arnold. “Thursday night should bring that out in us ... it’s going to be some good competition with Marion. We’d like to end the dual-meet season with a win and take that momentum into sectional.”

The Patriot boys swept three events. Senior Josh Hawn, swimming for the first time this season, picked up a pair of wins.

“It was a very good win for our second win of the season,” said Jay County boys coach Barry Weaver, who also got a pair of wins from Tom McCord. “It’s great to have Joseph (Vormohr) back, super to have Josh Hawn back.

“We did have a lot of personal bests. The divers really performed well. Overall it was a real good night. I think we’re on track finally to start heading towards sectional.”

Saxman’s wins each led sweeps as she finished the 200-yard individual medley in 2-minutes, 48.08 seconds and the 100 butterfly in 1:20.77.

Nikisha Imel scored her first victory of the season in the opening individual event of the night with a time of 2:39.52 in the 200 freestyle. April Acker added a personal-best 160.4 for first place in diving.

Kelci Reed and Amber Kelly pulled off a rare feat, as Reed rallied in the final 25 meters and the duo tied for first place in the 100 backstroke in 1:21.67. Reed, a freshman, had a big finish to the night as she took to the pool in each of the final three events.

“I’ve got to give Kelci Reed a lot of credit,” said Arnold, noting that Reed has not been able to swim both of her best events — the 100 backstroke and 100 breaststroke — most of the year because they fall back-to-back. “She turned around in her last freestyle and had a good split there. She gets the heart award tonight for doing those three, and she did it with a smile on her face.”

Other victories from the Patriot girls came from Ashley Horn in the 500 freestyle in 6:45.16, Lindsey Vesperry in the 100 freestyle in 1:02.87 and Cori Vormohr in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:14.71.

Hawn returned to the lineup to lead both of the Patriot swimming sweeps for the boys team. He finished just ahead of Chance Milligan and Josh Shatto with a time of 1:26.04 in the 50 freestyle, and topped Vormohr and Milligan in 58.88 in the 100 freestyle.

McCord rolled to victories in the 200 individual medley and 100 backstroke in times of 2:29.10 and 1:01.72 respectively.

Todd McCowan led Jay County’s diving sweep with a personal-best score of 182.65.

“The divers I thought were outstanding tonight,” said Weaver. “In practice they get competition from each other. That’s what really helps divers.”

Scott Walker reached the wall in 2:08.60 to win the 200 freestyle, and Min Geun Cho finished first in the 100 breaststroke in 1:14.35.

The boys and girls teams each won all three relays.[[In-content Ad]]