Jay Co. girls win meet, Fort Recovery third

The Patriots weren’t the hosts, though the meet was in their home pool.

That advantage helped the girls win their second invitational this season.

Alex Bader had a pair of wins and depth carried the Jay County High School girls swim team as it finished first in the Celina Waterdog Sprint meet Saturday at JCHS.

The Patriots totaled 179 points to win the meet, leaving Celina a distant second with 148.5. Fort Recovery, which had a record-setting performance from a junior, was third with 86 points.

For the boys, St. Marys Memorial totaled 84 points for the victory, with Celina (80) and Versailles (71) finishing second and third respectively. Jay County scored 42 for eighth, and Fort Recovery was 14th with one point.

Bader got her first victory in the 50-yard butterfly with her time of 26.55 seconds to hold off a field of 171 competitors. She then swam to a time of 30.58 seconds to win the 50 breaststroke, leading a Patriot team that had half of the top eight places. Vivienne Kunkler, Eliza Bader and Ashlyn Dow finished sixth through eighth respectively.

Fort Recovery junior Cassy Martin set a new school record in the 50 freestyle with her time of 25.15 seconds. She was also fourth in both the 50 backstroke and 50 breaststroke. 

Garrett Campbell was the lone Patriot boy with a finish in the top eight. He was fifth in the 50 freestyle.

Nolan Thobe of Fort Recovery finished 16th in the 50 butterfly to score the only point for the Indians.

Earning other top-eight finishes for the JCHS girls were Eliza Bader (fourth – 50 butterfly, sixth – 50 freestyle) and Dow (seventh – 50 freestyle). For Fort Recovery were Sophie Timmerman (fifth – 50 breaststroke) and Alexis Bubp (seventh – 50 butterfly).