JC batters Blackford (01/24/07)

The Blackford Bruins normally wear black and red. After Tuesday night, black and blue might be more appropriate.

Jay County's girls swim team put on a show in its final home meet of the year, sweeping the top four places in seven out of 12 events for a 227-61 destruction of the Bruins. The Patriot boys also handed Blackford a beating with seven wins and a pair of one-two efforts in a 177-108 triumph.

Tina Gingrasso won a pair of events in the final home meet of her career to lead the JCHS girls (7-6), who can end a streak of three consecutive losing seasons with a victory Thursday at Marion. Sam Miller scored a pair of victories for the boys team, which pushed its record to 3-7.

Gingrasso won her specialty events in dominating fashion. Her victory in the 50-yard freestyle came by more than six seconds in 28.82 seconds. She continued the pattern in the 100 freestyle, topping Blackford senior Christine Sills by more than 12 seconds with a time of 1-minute, 14.66 seconds.

Miller turned in an equally impressive victory in the boys 200 freestyle. He was out to a solid lead after the first 50 yards and finished in 2:11.19 for a victory of nearly 17 seconds.

The sophomore also took first place in the 100 backstroke at 1:04.51.

Briann Saxman and Cori Vormohr each won an individual event for the Patriot girls and were in on all three winning relays.

Saxman led a sweep of the 200 individual medley ahead of Caitlin Ruchgy, Lauren Murrell and Stephanie Skiver in 2:39.68. Vormohr finished ahead of teammates Michelle Landfair, Maddie Fennig and Nikisha Imel with a time of 1:03.43 in a sweep of the 100 butterfly.

Joining Saxman and Vormohr in the 200 medley relay win in 2:11.56 were Landfair and Ivy Simons.

They teamed with Gingrasso and fellow senior Ashley Horn to take the 200 freestyle relay in 1:55.80, and joined Gingrasso and Landfair to win the 400 freestyle relay by nearly 30 seconds in 4:19.45.

Horn closed out her career in her home pool with a victory in the 200 freestyle at 2:25.38 followed by Christa Castillo, Fennig and Rachel Osterholt. Landfair posted a time of 6:28.15 to finish ahead of Horn, Nikisha Imel and Osterholt in the 500 freestyle, and Simons took the 100 backstroke in 1:18.67 with Ruchgy, Skiver and Kelci Reed behind her.

Tom McCord, Aaron Hudson and Scott Walker were each in on a trio of victories for the boys team.

McCord picked up his individual win in the 50 freestyle, leading a one-two finish with Lance VanSkyock in 24.07. Hudson's individual win came in the 500 freestyle at 5:47.45, and Walker took the 100 freestyle with a time of 58.45.

Miller, McCord, Hudson and Walker teamed for a victory in the 400 freestyle relay with a time of 3:57.97. In the 200 medley relay it was McCord, Hudson, Walker and VanSkyock winning in 1:55.81.

Lauren Murrell led the final individual victory for the girls team in the 100 breaststroke. She was first in 1:24.30, followed by Reed and seniors Briana Louth and Molly Sutton.

April Acker cruised to the diving victory by nearly 30 points with a total of 150.5.

Stephen Kelly made it a diving sweep as he took the boys competition with 171.65 points. Fellow Patriot Donny McCowan was second at 159.55.[[In-content Ad]]