Bison boys break school record at home

McCOOK, Neb. — Nothing but good news awaited Isaac Hegwood when he stopped splashing through the McCook YMCA pool and shook water from his ears Friday evening.

“They told me we were real close to qualifying for state,” Hegwood proclaimed about McCook’s 200-meter freestyle relay. “And oh by the way, you guys set a new school record.”

Hegwood’s big smile should make the 1991 Bison record setters feel about better about being replaced on top MHS record charts.

McCook’s Billy Howard, John Philo, Mike Clark and Brad DeMoss set that 200-freestyle record 27 years ago.

Hegwood, TJ Renner, Erick Graff and Drake Brunswick finally broke that record with a time of 1{42.63 on Friday.

The 200-free relay actually earned a secondary state-qualifying time, coach Lori Jumps confirmed on Monday.

Friday’s season debut should also start a wave of momentum pushing McCook’s boys all winter season:

They’re just going to get better and better and better.

Diving featured senior Syd Wier, Erik Graff and Spencer Reiners all earning top five placers as they start their quest for another Class B state meet.

Yet the Bison boys really expect to make a bigger splash in races this season.

McCook’s 400-meter relay earned the highest place on this day. Hegwood, Graff, Ethan Spencer and Renner placed third with a time of 3:55.97.

Spencer raced to a top four finish among 200-individual medley swimmers. The race where swimmers must show their all-around ability by swimming freestyle, butterfly, etc.

Hegwood delivered another top five finish in the 100-meter freestyle with his time of 56.27 seconds.

Renner took seventh in that same race — not bad at all considering McCook was battling larger squads from North Platte, Hastings and Scottsbluff-Gering.

All of the McCook boys’ top eight placers at their swim-dive home meet on Friday.

The Bison competed against North Platte, Scottsbluff and Hastings.

Diving

One-meter: 1. Jonathan Brouilette, NP, 249.8; 3. Syd Weir, MC, 173.6; 4. Erik Graff, MC, 155.45; 5. Spencer Reiners, MC, 150.7.

Swimming

100-freestyle: 1. Luke Entz, NP, 50.55; 5. Isaac Hegwood, MC, 56.27; 7. TJ Renner, MC, 57.21.

100-backstroke: 1. Grant Johnson, HAST, 58.39; 6. Peyton Rambali, MC, 1:33.96.

100-breaststroke: 1. Andrew Mooc, SCOT, 1:09.12; 8. Ethan Graff, MC, 1:29.09.

200-IM: 1. Mooc, SCOT, 2:14.79; 4. Ethan Spencer, MC, 2:45.97.

200-free relay: 1. Hastings 1:33.86; 4. McCook 1:42.63 (Renner-Erik Graff-Drake Brunswick-Hegwood).

400-relay: 1. Hastings 3:38.79; 3. McCook 3:55.97 (Hegwood-Erik Graff-Spencer-Renner); 6. McCook 5:05.98 (Ethan Graff-Baylor Winters-Rambali-Brunswick).

GIRLS

McCook’s girls earned several secondary state-qualifying times during events on Friday:

Laurel Schmidt and Candace Coleman, 50-freestyle;

Mollie Tate, 100-breaststroke;

Carmen Cubria-Sanchez, 500-freestyle.

The 200-free and 200-medley relays also reached secondary qualifying times.

All McCook top girls’ placers were mentioned in Monday’s Gazette.

The Bison host another triangular on Friday vs. North Platte and Scottsbluff. Action’s scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. in the YMCA.