NAPPANEE – It took a little while, but Wawasee found a way to achieve its first swim victory of the season Tuesday night. Needing some late depth points, Wawasee stacked up a 111-71 win at NorthWood in Northern Lakes Conference action.

Wawasee’s Logan Brugh opens the medley relay, helping the team to an event win against NorthWood. (Photos by Mike Deak)

Wawasee only held an three-point lead heading into the second half of the meet, but used big showings in the 100 free, backstroke and breaststroke to distance itself from a very competitive NorthWood roster. Leading just 47-44 after Logan Brugh took first in the butterfly (1:00.19), Wawasee won first in the remainder of the events, taking first and second in the backstroke and breaststroke to pull away.

Wawasee teammates Logan Haessig and Danny Allen were right there in the backstroke, Haessig at 1:07.07 and Allen three-tenths back while Zac Hershberger was at 1:08.03 in the breast, seven-tenths better than Mason Germonprez.

Brugh picked up a win in the 500 (5:09.01), Hershberger the 100 (53.68) and Germonprez the individual medley (2:19.34) while all three relays for Wawasee were winners.

NorthWood diver Teagan Stutsman is cool as a cucumber during his dive attempt.

NorthWood presented a frontloaded challenge, starting the night off with a one-two in diving with Austin Conrad leading the way with a 161.70, then Nate Nunemaker shooting out to a big win in the 200 at 2:03.91 and Riley Smith conquering the field in the 50 at 26.56.

The Panthers were just four points back of the Warriors at the intermission following the 50 free, 41-37, but didn’t have an answer as Wawasee stole points off depth late in the meet.

“Mason looked really strong in the breaststroke, he was right there with Zac and Logan Haessig picked up a win tonight, which was great to see from him,” said Wawasee assistant coach Cheryl Miller, filling in for head coach Julie Robinson, sidelined after having back surgery this morning.

Austin Krizman of Wawasee works the 100 freestyle.

Swimming in Wawasee’s medley relay (1:53.28) were Brugh, Germonprez, Haessig and Hershberger. The 200 free relay (1:45.67) consisted of Germonprez, Caige Wahlgren, Jaxon Bame and Austin Krizman. The 400 relay (3:49.67) comprised of Brugh, Haessig, Wahlgren and Hershberger.

The victory gave Wawasee its first of the year in its four NLC swims, but the pieces are still a work in progress heading into the final dual of the calendar year Thursday with Plymouth. Wawasee also hosts its own invitational this Saturday.

“I think they are starting to put things together, and they are coming together as a team,” Miller stated. “Finding where they need to go, being placed in the right place, was key to getting a win against a NorthWood team that surprised me a little in the talent they had.”