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McCook swimmer at Kearney qualifies for state meet
KEARNEY, Neb. — The McCook High School swimmers and divers returned to competition Saturday for the first time since mid-December.
While a few improved their personal best times, most of the swimmers maintained their times from before Christmas break at the Kearney High School Swim and Dive Invite on Saturday.
MHS Coach Jon Graff said he had hoped for improvements but is satisfied that his swimmers held their times against seven teams from across the state.
“We had good momentum going into the holiday break, posting lower times at each meet, so we got spoiled,” Graff said. “I had high hopes of where we’d be at this meet but with the disruptions to practice, including a snow day, most of the swimmers just maintained previous times.”
One highlight came from junior Leah Spencer, who punched her card for the Nebraska championships in Lincoln at the end of February. Leah earned an automatic qualifying time in the 50-yard freestyle event, posting a time of 25.21 and good for second place at the meet. Sophomore Izzy Renner placed 12th in the very competitive 50 free, with a time of 27.81.
Leah also placed second in what has become her other signature event, the 100-yard backstroke in 1:02.66
Alexis Tucker earned a fourth place finish in the 100 yard butterfly in a time of 1:07 and fifth place in the 200 yard free with a time of 2:07.79. Kailynn Rodewald earned 8th in the 200 in 2:15.03.
The girls 400 relay earned second overall with a time of 3:55.01 and continue to take time off their secondary qualifying time. The relay includes Leah, Izzy Renner, Alexis Tucker and Kailynn Rodewald.
Kailynn also shaved off a few seconds in the 200 yard freestyle, continuing to work toward qualifying for the state meet.
On the boys side, senior Ethan Spencer was competitive in two events new to his lineup: the 100 back with a 7th place finish in 1:06.45 and 200 individual medley. Caleb Wilkinson also placed in the 50 yard free, earning 11th place with a time of 25.91.
The divers also faced tough competition in their first 11-dive meet of the season, including last season’s state runner-up from Lincoln PiusX for the boys.
With only six-dive meets before the holiday break, freshman Emma Graff competed in her first 11-dive meet of her career, earning fourth overall for the Bison.
MHS senior Ethan Graff earned fourth pace overall with sophomore Caleb Shaw taking fifth.
Coach Graff is hoping for a solid week of practice from both the swimmers and divers before the team heads east for the Cotter Invite at Lincoln High School.
“We’ll face a lot of good competition in Lincoln so it’s a great chance for us to see how we stack up,” Graff said.
Earning team points for the Bison by placing in the top 12 individual events and top 8 relays: Girls 200 medley relay, 8th, Emma Graff, Abi Nielsen, Karragan Shaw, Gracie Manley, 2:19.19
Boys 200 medley relay, 6th, Ethan Spencer, Caleb Wilkinson, Kevin Bantam, David Hinson, 1:57.73
200 individual medley, Ethan Spencer, 10th, 2:24.37
100 yard free, Izzy Renner, 7th, 1:00.37
100 yard free, David Hinson, 11th, 59.56
500 yard free, Kailynn Rodewald, 8th, 6:00.46
500 yard free, Deacon Kinne, 9th, 6:11.26
Girls 200 yard free relay, Renner, Rodewald, Tucker, Spencer, 4th, 1:49
Boys 200 yard free relays, Blazon Mooney, Ethan Graff, Hayden Norgaard, Deacon, Kinne, 8th, 1:53.68
100 yard breaststroke, Emma Graff, 9th, 1:24.14
100 yard breaststroke, Joseph Barenberg, 11th, 1:14.06
Boys 400 yard free relay, Wilkinson, Hinson, Bantam, Spencer, 6th, 3:50.46