High school swim teams from Bethel, Tecumseh, Northwestern, Greenon and Indian Lake converged at the New Carlisle Sports and Fitness Center on Monday afternoon, January 18. This is the third year for this event where the teams from Bethel, Tecumseh and Northwestern practice during the week.
The teams have a competitive streak between them. Several of the swimmers on each also swim with club swim teams and started out swimming together at a young age. While the rivalries are strong, there is also a strong sense of teamwork between all the swimmers. Many of the races finished with only hundredths between first and second place.
The Arrows swam again on Wednesday, January 20, at Trotwood Madison, joining three other teams in a meet. The Arrows were strong in the relays, placing first in five of the six relays during the evening. Arrow swimmers brought in several individual first place finishes at Trotwood: Owen Measel (SR) – 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly, Julia Randenburg (FR) – 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke, Hannah Peck (JR) – 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke, Michelle Murray (FR) – 50 freestyle, Emma Artnz (SO) – 100 freestyle, Morgan Shaner (SR) – 500 freestyle. The Lady Arrows finished first place overall for the meet, and the Men were second overall.
On Saturday, January 23, the Arrows, Bethel Bees and Northwestern Warriors met again, joining eleven other teams at Wright State University in the Kenton Ridge Invitational. Arrows continued their strong swimming for the season with the lady Arrows 200 Freestyle Relay breaking the THS record they set earlier in the season. Saturday’s time was 1:53:11 to bring the team in third overall in the event. The relay team is comprised of Morgan Shaner, Hannah Peck, Michelle Murray (FR), and Julia Randenburg.
“Each time these ladies get in the water they improve. They push each other to be better swimmers” says Arrows Coach Tom Stafford.
Individual swimmers were strong at this meet as well. Owen Measel came in a very close second in the 200 individual medley, falling behind Chandler Vandiford (SR) of Springfield High School by only 0:08 seconds. Ben Wright (SR) of Bethel had a strong second place finish in the 200 freestyle, battling back and forth with Aman Ngqakayi (SR) of Yellow Springs. Riley Cassidy (SR) at Northwestern, was a second place finisher in the 200 individual medley. Eilianna Wright (FR) of Bethel and Michelle Murray tied for fifth in the 50 yard freestyle with a time of 27:99, in a field of 56 swimmers competing in the event. Alex Kennedy (SO) of Tecumseh brought in a sixth place finish in the men’s 50 yard freestyle with a time of 27:23, in a field of 47 men.
Final results for Saturday’s meet at Wright State: Tecumseh Women at fourth place, Tecumseh Men in fifth place, Bethel Women finish seventh, Bethel Men finish eighth and Northwestern Women finish twelfth overall.
