Tigers, Warriors Load Up On NLC Swim Titles
By Mike Deak
InkFreeNews
MIDDLEBURY – It was a banner day of sorts for both Warsaw and Wawasee at Saturday’s final round of the Northern Lakes Conference Boys Swim Championships.
Warsaw won five event titles and Wawasee another two among the 11 events run Saturday afternoon at the Northridge Natatorium.
Warsaw won both the medley and 200 free relays, the work of Cooper Archer, Nate Taylor, Ian Wihebrink and Michael Ray sailing to a 1:40.59 winner to hold off Northridge in the medley. The Tigers then came back with Archer, Wihebrink, Ray and Gabe Bowers to swim to a 1:31.17 in the sprint relay to edge Concord at the wall.
Ray would have himself a monster afternoon, also adding titles in the 50 free (22.14) and the 100 free (48.57). Wihebrink also won an exciting finish in the breaststroke, earning his first NLC title with a 1:00.36 to hold off Northridge’s Tristan Bratt by a half stroke.
The Warriors pulled a pair of titles, both involving Nathan Kryder, who led the apex in the butterfly to a title at 54.77. Kryder would join Blake Roose, Nathan Harper and Joshua Metcalf to post a blistering 3:22.43, besting runner-up Concord by a half second.
The highlights for the two Kosciusko County programs had the Warriors finish second in the team standings with 318 points and the Tigers at 305. Splitting the two was Goshen at 306, and led by Concord at 375, which won its third straight NLC team title. Northridge (259), NorthWood (217), Mishawaka (189) and Plymouth (106) wrapped up the team standings.
Concord, which had Ethan Smith win diving Friday night, had 16 swims in the championship round but just one champion, that coming from Tommy Brunner in the 200 free, posting a 1:47.50.
Luke Dibley pulled a double for Northridge, winning the 500 free (4:45.79) and backstroke (53.10), and Bratt would pull out the individual medley title at 1:58.94.
Additional results for Warsaw included Taylor runner-up in the fly (55.27) and Bowers eighth (59.63), Wihebrink fourth in the 200 free (1:53.37), Archer fourth in the IM (2:08.05), and the Tigers fifth in the 400 relay.
Additional results for Wawasee included fifth in the medley relay and 200 relay, Kryder third in the 200 free (1:51.27) and Camden Powell seventh (1:55.07), Harper third in the IM (2:03.58) and Karlson Hand fifth (2:08.32), Metcalf seventh in the 50 (23.97) and sixth in the 100 (52.00), Powell seventh in the 100 (52.99), Roose third in the 500 free (5:06.48 and Zeke Keim sixth (5:08.24), and Harper second in the backstroke (54.44) and Keim fourth (56.95).
Additional results for NorthWood included Joe Hahn second in the 50 (22.39) and Karson Kirby sixth (23.93), Hahn fourth in the 100 free (50.18), the 200 free relay fourth and 400 free relay sixth.