Patriots match school record (02/07/08)

"I'm hoping that we're going to be very competitive in every meet."

Consider that mission accomplished.

With wins over the Muncie Southside Rebels (79-21) and New Castle Trojans (79-23) Wednesday, the Jay County High School boys swim team finished off a regular season that far exceeded coach Barry Weaver's pre-season goal. The double victory pushed the Patriots to 12-3 on the season, tying the school record for wins.

Weaver said he did not see the accomplishment coming.

"A lot of things have come together over the course of the season," he said. "We've got some guys who have really come a long way and dropped a lot of time. ... It's been really amazing to watch the transformation ..."

The record was previously held alone by the 2001-02 squad, which finished 12-2 and won the only sectional championship in school history. This is just the fifth time a JCHS team has posted double-digit wins.

Battling two teams instead of one Wednesday had little effect on the Patriots as they still won 10 out of 12 events and posted five one-two finishes.

Tom McCord and Nathan Cain were the lead duo, teaming up in both the 200- and 500-yard freestyle.

McCord dominated both events, winning the 200 in 1-minute, 55.07 seconds. Cain was second in the event at 2:09.66.

In the 500, McCord posted a career-best time of 5:20.92 for a victory by nearly 45 seconds. Cain was second in 5:44.47, also a personal-best time.

"If the distance kids are starting to feel better, then soon the sprint kids are going to feel the same way," said Weaver, who will now begin resting his team in an effort to be at full strength for next week's sectional meet. "(McCord and Cain) had some good swims tonight."

Sam Miller joined McCord as a double winning, also leading a pair of one-two efforts. He took the 100 butterfly in 54.91 ahead of Aaron Hudson (1:01.29) and the 200 individual medley at 2:06.76 with Neal Fennig (2:30.3) in second place.

Chance Milligan, who was in on all three relay wins, and Derik Lucas went one-two in the 100 freestyle at 56.48 and 1:00.81 respectively.

McCord, Miller and Milligan teamed with Fennig for a time of 3:47.96 to win the 400 freestyle relay and joined Lance VanSkyock to take the 200 freestyle relay in 1:42.58. Milligan, Fennig, Hudson and Cody Bullard were first in the 200 medley relay in 1:54.7.

Fennig also took the top slot in the 100 backstroke, reaching the wall in 1:05.31.

As hosts of the sectional tournament - preliminaries are Thursday, Feb. 14, with finals to follow Saturday, Feb. 16 - the Patriots will have several chances to make runs at victories and the accompanying state berths.

Heading into the tournament, McCord, a senior, is the team's lone top seed in the 200 freestyle.

He is also the No. 2 seed in the 500 freestyle.

Miller is seeded second in both the 200 individual medley and 100 butterfly, and Hudson is the No. 2 seed in the 100 breaststroke.

Steven Kelly and Donny McCowan are among the favorites in diving, and all three JCHS relays are seeded third.

"I'm never comfortable at this time of year," said Weaver of the week off before the sectional begins. "It's a nerve-wracking time of year, but I probably feel about as well as I have in several years about where I think we can be at this time next week."[[In-content Ad]]