Wawasee Swimming: Flipping And Flopping
NAPPANEE – Tuesday’s Northern Lakes Conference dual between Wawasee and NorthWood was a good opportunity for both programs to move around some pieces. The frontline talent on Wawasee still afforded the clubs to run away with lopsided wins against NorthWood, but some maneuvering and shuffling of the events opened some doors.
The boys dual was dominated by Wawasee in a 145-37 result while the Lady Warriors ran up a 125-58 margin on the Lady Panthers.
All of the name brands for the Warriors still swam, but weren’t in several of their usual positions. NorthWood swam a little shorthanded, namely missing Jason McNeil, and it showed in some race voids. Wawasee, however, would win 21 of the 22 combined swim events just the same.
The boys separation was particularly noticeable in the Warriors favor, sweeping eight races including all three relays. The medley opened at 1:54.50 and the 400 closed at 3:49.07 while the 200 was sandwiched in at 1:44.61, all one-two Wawasee wins. Brady Robinson led a sweep of the individual medley (2:00.69) and the breaststroke (1:03.44), an event seldom entered. Jared Krugman won his customary 200 free (1:54.50) but left the 500 to win the butterfly (58.41) while Jake Cowan took honors in the distance freestyle at 5:15.66.
Brett Willaman also pulled a double for the Warriors, winning the 50 (24.37) and backstroke (1:01.16) in a rare double for the senior, his backstroke the best he’s ever gone in the race. Bryce Knepp added a win in the 100 free at 56.86.
“The boys are really versatile, so it was nice to be able to break away from the traditional lineup and try something new,” said Wawasee head coach Julie Robinson. “Jake did a nice job in the 200 and the 500 frees, and so did Brett in his two races. I wanted to move some kids around to see where we should be come January.”
The girls were a little more conventional in their event successes. Ella Park pulled another double in the distance swims, outgunning Kate Jarvis in the 200 free by .25 at 2:06.70 and came back to crush the competition in the 500 at 5:41.27, a full minute faster than teammate Lizzy Brugh’s runner-up time, letting up on the gas midway through the race.
Alyssa Koch also won two events, leading a sweep of the IM (2:27.68) and taking the backstroke (1:08.38). Abby Hackleman led a Wawasee sweep of the butterfly (1:15.28) and Rileigh Atwood paced the sweep of the breaststroke (1:10.42). Belle Brunner added a win in the 50 at 28.73.
Wawasee added relay wins in the medley (2:08.05), 200 (1:59.07) and 400 (4:10.81).
“I think the girls are getting more confidence in what they are doing and they are learning how to race,” Robinson said. “I think they are really becoming a little engine that is getting some force behind them. The more confidence they are getting and growing as a team, they are starting to put something special together.”
Jarvis would pull the only NorthWood swim win of the night, using the loss in the 200 to Park as motivation to come back in the 100 freestyle. Going head-to-head with Atwood, Jarvis made up a very small lead through the first 50 and had a slight edge off the wall into the last down before needing a little extra zip in her finish at 57.96 to get Atwood at 58.68, which was Atwood’s lifetime best in the race.
“Kate doesn’t like to get beat. So she’lll come back even harder in the second race,” stated NorthWood head coach Tim Stutsman of Jarvis. “I think overall, some of the little changes she is making and from the competition she’s seen, she will be fine.”
Diving would be a bright spot for the Panthers, with Laura Schrock leading the way with a 215.85 absent of Wawasee representation. The boys had Caden Jenkins post a 223.70 to outgun Wawasee’s trio.
NorthWood works again Thursday at Mishawaka before wrapping up its 2017 calendar with a visit from Northridge on Saturday. Wawasee takes on Plymouth Thursday after the Pilgrims visit Warsaw Wednesday in a make-up meet from Tuesday’s snow issues. Northridge then comes calling for the Warriors next Thursday in a NLC showdown before the holiday break.
“We just have to look at the times and not worry about who is in the pool,” Stutsman said. “We have to look at the times we are dropping and what some of those goals we set are. We aren’t going to be able to compete team-wise with programs like Wawasee or Northridge, we don’t have the studs or the depth, but it’s about going out and doing what we can.”