Patriots outshine Starfires

BERNE — The Patriots have been dominant so far this year, and Tuesday’s performance didn’t change the narrative.

The Jay County Junior High School swim team performed a clean sweep of the South Adams Starfires on Tuesday, winning every single event.

The girls team choked out the Starfires in a 144-37 victory, while the boys stopped South Adams 119-44.

For the second night in a row, Raif Beiswanger, Elly Byrum, Brooklynn Byrum, Cooper Glentzer and Maria Laux all brought home a pair of wins in individual events. Grady Warvel also added his name to that list, with first-place finishes in the 400-yard freestyle and 100 breaststroke. Beiswanger topped the field in the 100 individual medley and the 50 butterfly to be the first Patriot to claim a double victory. 

Glentzer, the other boy who took home a pair of wins, took care of the 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke for Jay County.

Both of Laux’s victories came in freestyle events, as she competed in the 100 and 200 freestyle.

Elly Bryum handled the 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke for the Patriots, while Brooklynn Byrum won the 100 individual medley and 100 breaststroke.

Four new cuts

FISHERS — Three Patriots made state cuts over the weekend when the Jay County Winter Swim team competed in the Divisional meet at Fishers high school.

Cooper Glentzer made his only state cut in the meet, as he shaved off 49.71 seconds from his 1,650-yard freestyle to finish second in 18 minutes, 44.12 seconds in the 13-14-year-old group.

Addisyn Champ and Carsyn Guggenbiller also made time to compete at the state meet at IUPUI from March 15-17. 

Champ earned a spot in her fifth event as she swam a 2:50.29 in the 10-and-younger 200 individual medley. She also earned the district championship in the event, as well as 50 breaststroke.

Guggenbiller passed in two events to total six that she will swim at state. Times of 1:28.97 and 37.98 in the 10-and-younger 100 butterfly and 50 butterfly cleared the state cut. Guggenbiller’s 50 butterfly time earned the divisional championship. 

The trio will also be joined by Sophie Warvel (four events) and Ellie Wiggins (two events).

Warvel claimed the other two divisional championships at the meet, with a 1:10.7 in the 10-and-younger 100 freestyle and a 1:34.48 in the 100 breaststroke.