Arabians swim teams strong out of the gate

0

PENDLETON — The Nov. 29 meeting between Pendleton Heights swimming and diving teams and Muncie Central showed Coach Amanda Safford her Arabians are eager to put the work in for a successful season.

The Arabian boys defeated the visiting Bearcats 129-57, while the girls took the meet with a 130-55.

The opening night meet was an opportunity for the Arabians to not only see where they are but also where they can improve.

“I always get excited for the first meet. It sets the stage,” Safford said. “From what I saw today, I’m impressed with their times.”

Safford said no one had their best time, but she wasn’t expecting it. “I think they kind of blew me away as to what I had in my minds where I thought they were going to be.”

Most of the swimmers were faster than she anticipated, and Safford believes the season will only get better.

“It means our training is working. We’ve tweaked some things and added some things where we need a little more help,” Safford said.

She did see areas where the team will work on in practice to improve performance.

For the girls, the majority of the team is returning from last season, but there are some additions including incoming freshmen and exchange student Lorena Feha.

After losing 14 seniors from last year’s team, Safford was initially concerned about filling the huge gap.

“We do have good depth with the individuals on the team who have been swimming for years. Even our new ones coming in are blowing us away,” Safford said.

Returning this year are Alia Walters, Sophie Kaster, Stella Payne and diver Madelyn Heineman.

For the boys, Kyle Kemper, diver Ashur Grobey and senior Jaylen Seeko who is a new Arabian diver. Safford said the boys team has gained several faces and are revving up for the season.

Safford said their distance events could be a strong point for the Arabians as well as the individual medley and the backstroke.

“We’re certainly not at sectional times, but we are in a range I’m comfortable with,” Safford said.

In the matchup with Muncie Central, Ella Rector led the team with wins in the 200 IM, the 100 backstroke and was on the winning 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay teams. The medley team included Rector, Ellie Ray, Kenndey Safford and Gentry. The 400 team was McIntyre, Rector, Payne and Kaster.

Joining Rector in the win column was Kaster in the 100 butterfly and Mallory Gentry in the 50 freestyle.

The winning 200 freestyle relay team included Gentry, Walters, Clara McIntyre and Kaster.

Maddie Heineman won the diving.

In the boys meet, the medley relay team of Jacob Simpson, Kemper, Eli Brindley and Ian Christian. Christian won the 50 freestyle.

Grobey won the diving.

Brindley also won the 200 IM, while Simpson won the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke. Christian won the 100 freestyle. Evan McKinney won the 200 freestyle.

Kemper took top honors in the 100 breaststroke, while the team of Brindley, McKinney, Christian and Simpson won the 400 freestyle relay.

Since then, both teams have competed in two more dual meets and one invitational.

The girls went 1-1 in the duals, defeating Yorktown 93-92 and losing to Greenfield-Central 109-77, while the boys went 0-2 in the duals, losing to Yorktown 121-64 and Greenfield-Central 98-87.

In more recent action on Saturday, both teams competed in the Shelbyville Relays.

The boys finished in third-place out of six teams, and the girls took second-place out of seven teams.

The girls trailed just Yorktown by a score of 136-122, a team they had defeated a few days prior.

Outpacing the boys score of 114 were both Yorktown (140) and Mt. Vernon (124).

Both teams were back in action on Tuesday, Dec. 13, playing host to New Palestine (after press time). They are scheduled to travel to Anderson on Tuesday, Dec. 20, for a 5:30 p.m. start.

No posts to display