The Columbus North swimmers faced a tall order Tuesday night when they entertained Franklin boys and girls teams that both finished as state runner-up last season.
The Bull Frogs were able to manage three event victories on the girls side and one for the boys, but the Grizzly Cubs claimed 120-66 wins in both meets.
While the North boys were competing in their season opener, the girls were coming off a season-opening loss to Franklin Central a week earlier.
“We talked about stepping up our competitiveness, stepping up our drive, and the practices leading into this meet, we did a really good job of that and it showed in this meet tonight,” North coach Logan Schaefer said.
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Both of the Bull Frogs’ individual victories came in the 100-yard freestyle. Betsy King won the girls race in 54.53 seconds, and freshman Daniel Utterback claimed the boys event in 50.01.
The North girls also won a pair of relays. King, Bryleigh Shaffstall, Erica Samuel and Olivia Morlok took the 200 freestyle relay in 1:44.42, and the same quartet captured the 400 freestyle relay in 3:47.43.
King also finished second in the girls 50 freestyle in 24.80. Morlok took second in the 200 freestyle in 2:01.88, and Samuel was second in the 500 freestyle in 5:16.10.
For the boys, Aidan McAlister finished second in both the 200 freestyle (1:57.13) and 500 freestyle (5:13.17). Christopher Lee took second in the 50 freestyle (22.62), and Kyan Jiles was second in the diving competition (183.72 points).
“There are little pieces throughout everything,” Schaefer said. “We had lifetime bests — faster than what people were in sectional in February. That’s a really good sign. We’re looking to build on that going forward.”
