The Batesville swimmers competed at Madison Saturday. The Lady Bulldogs finished behind the host Cubs but ahead of North Harrison for second place. The BHS boys took third in the meet. Will Johnson had the team’s only event victory.
Both Milan clubs finished third at the 5-way Lawrenceburg Invite. Double individual winners for the Indians were Ariel Haessig and Parker Sutherlin. Emilee Knueven and Dylan Thomas had a victory apiece. Link to full results are below.
Unedited recap from Batesville coach Greg McMullen: The Bulldogs swim team traveled Saturday, Dec 4 to take on the Small Team Invitational hosted by Madison high school. The Bulldogs traveled well and had a strong showing at the annual invitational.
“This was a great opportunity to showcase what we’ve been working so hard on,” said head coach Greg McMullen. “We hit a few bumps in the road, but overall we’re extremely proud of how our Bulldogs represented our school at this invite.”
A highlight of the meet came out of junior newcomer Blake Hon, swimming his first 200 and 500 double of the season. Coach McMullen commented, “leading up to this week, Blake hadn’t, yet, completed a full 200 in practice. It hadn’t come up in our season plan but we asked if he was willing to do it to try and earn some points and get some quality swimming in. And of course he said ‘yes’.”
Hon said this to his coaches after the race, “honestly it was easier than I thought it would be…[catches breath]…I’d do it again.”
On the women’s side Maria Lopez once again led in the scoring with a second (100 Fly) and third (200 IM) posting near lifetime bests in both events. “When I told Maria that she hit that close to her LTB in the 100 Fly we were both overly excited. It’s been since Sophomore year when she hit that time and it’s showing that our weight and water time have been hitting the right marks. Now we just need to carry this momentum into the rest of the season,” said McMullen.
Overall, the Bulldogs have been improving quickly with the team gradually finding their groove. Sean Callahan and Will Johnson have really started hitting their stride in their signature events with Johnson taking the 50 Free in a 23.40 with second place only .04 behind. While Callahan finished in second in the 500 Free and 200 IM, both with season best times.
While in-season times are always hit-or-miss, one of the best metrics they look at are where athletes are from previous seasons to now and the Bulldogs, at least in their coaches’ eyes are a lot further ahead than they have been.
TEAM SCORES
Men
Madison, 380
North Harrison, 285
Batesville, 249
Women
Madison, 357
Batesville, 291
North Harrison, 206
BULLDOG TOP FINISHERS
Men
Will Johnson — 1st, 50 Free and 2nd, 100 Free
Sean Callahan — 2nd, 200 IM and 500 Free
Ciaran Tyrer — 2nd, 100 Fly and 100 IM
Women
Maria Lopez — 3rd, 200 IM and 2nd, 100 Fly
Averi Jones — 3rd, 50 Free
Taylor Blanton — 3rd,100 Backstroke
Sarah Bedel — 3rd, 100 Breaststroke
Please click on this link for full results of the Lawrenceburg Invite