JH swim starts season strong

The girls have been on fire to start the season and the boys have been getting stronger each meet.

The Jay County Junior High School swim team split with Norwell on Feb. 24 before the boys picked off Adams Central on Monday and sweeping Blackford on Tuesday.

The girls managed a 187-110 victory against the Knights, while the boys fell 195-92.

Elly Bryum, Maria Laux and Kali Wendel led the way for the Patriots, each securing a pair of wins for the girls. 

Byrum hit the wall first in the 100-yard individual medley and the 100 backstroke, Laux claimed the 100 freestyle and 100 breast and Wendel was victorious in the 50 butterfly and 400 freestyle.

The girls also got wins from Jordyn Champ in the 50 freestyle, Gabby Gibson in the 200 freestyle and all three relay teams.

Despite falling in the meet, Grant Glentzer and Grady Warvel both picked up a pair of first-place finishes. Glentzer’s success came in the 200 and 400 freestyle events, while Warvel won the 100 IM and 100 breaststroke.

Ben Fisher’s top finish in the 50 freestyle was the only other individual victory for the boys. They also won the 200 medley relay and the 300 freestyle relay.

The girls won by default against Adams Central on Monday, as the Jets couldn’t carry a full team, while the boys bounced back for a 105-81 victory.

Once again, Glentzer and Warvel were dual event winners. Warvel topped the same events as he did against Norwell, while Glentzer replaced the 200 freestyle for the 100 freestyle.

Noah Wentz had the only other first-place finish for the boys in the 200 freestyle.

Swimming against their own teammates, winners for the girls were Elly Byrum (50 butterfly and 100 breaststroke), Isabelle Byrum (100 freestyle), Champ (1-meter diving), Gibson (100 backstroke), Laux (100 IM and 400 freestyle), Kali Wendel (200 freestyle) and Lila Wendel (50 freestyle).

Both teams beat Blackford as the girls racked up 199 points to the Bruins’ 72 and the boys put up 129 to edge out the 110 points of their opponents.

The girls swept all 12 events in the meet. 

Kalie Wendel (50 butterfly and 400 freestyle), Elly Byrum (200 freestyle and 100 freestyle) and Laux (50 freestyle and 100 backstroke) all posted two victories for the Patriots.

Champ once again won the diving, while Isabelle Byrum finished first in the 100 IM and Gibson claimed the 100 breaststroke.

Fisher also joined the dual-event winners club by taking first in the 200 freestyle and 100 freestyle. Warvel also picked up a pair of wins in the 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke.

Glentzer claimed the 100 IM, while Arman Solis hit the wall first in the 400 freestyle. Jay County’s 200 medley relay and 200 freestyle relay teams also came out on top.