Columbus North sent its senior swimmers off in style Thursday night with dominating performances in the pool against Oldenburg Academy.
The Bull Frogs girls team defeated the Twisters 146-30, while the North boys won 158-15. The two teams combined to win all but one race, with all seven seniors excelling in their respective events.
“Very helpful,” North coach Logan Schaefer said of his senior leadership. “They have been with me now for two years and helped us establish team chemistry and bonds and culture that we strive to continue to push forward.”
The girls 200-yard medley relay team of Riddhi Garg, Erica Samuel, Anna Kishnani and Madison Sandlin got the meet off to a winning start, finishing in 2:16.19.
Senior Kaitlyn Niebrugge placed first in the 100 backstroke (1:04.55) and 100 breaststroke (1:17.45) and teamed with Hannah Manlief, Abbey Landini and Sandlin to win the the 200 freestyle relay (1:52.00).
Betsy King also was part of three victories, starting with the 200 individual medley (2:18.46), then the 100 butterfly (1:04.52) and lastly the 400 freestyle relay with teammates Vaikhari Nalole, Landini and senior Lauren Mackey (4:08.37).
Karlie Brown won the 50 freestyle (28.09) and 100 freestyle (1:00.01), while Adeline Rush took the 500 freestyle (6:09.00) and Ella Anderson captured the diving competition (168.35).
Jared Carroll, Evan Patterson and Nick Green led the Bull Frogs boys. Carroll placed first in the 200 IM (2:03.42), while helping the 200 medley relay team to a win with Tristen Cook, Jared Greene and Sam Russell (1:51.19).
Green went on to win individually in the 100 freestyle (51.24) and 100 backstroke (1:00.48). A third victory came for Green with teammates Christopher Lee, Russell and Carroll in the 200 freestyle relay (1:32.65).
Evan Patterson won the 50 freestyle (22.74) and 100 breaststroke (1:05.59). Other wins came from Paxton Rush in the 200 freestyle (1:59.76), Grant Fehribach in diving (254.00), Greene in the 100 butterfly (1:01.53) and Russell in the 500 freestyle (4:51.60).
Green, Rush Tristen Cook and Jones captured the 400 freestyle relay (3:37.50).
As sectional preliminaries approach next week, Schaefer believes his team is heading in the right direction and likes the progress he is seeing in their meets.
“We are seeing our girls and boys put the changes and techniques from practice into their race strategy,” Schaefer said. “So that’s exciting to see us go into sectional time because those changes are going to help us swim faster and perform as a team.”
