Kira VanValkenburg
Facing a Greensburg team that was a little smaller in numbers than most teams they see, the Columbus East boys and girls swimmers felt a little less pressure Tuesday on senior night.
The Olympians celebrated by beating the Pirates 118-60 in the boys meet and 134-35 in the girls contest.
“I love being able to swim without feeling as much pressure like at the big meets like sectional,” senior Kira VanValkenburg said. “I felt like today, especially since we started tapering (for next week’s girls sectional), our team had more energy, so we all could just perform better. Our relays felt faster, and individually, I felt like I was able to perform better with having more rest.”
VanValkenburg won the 200-yard freestyle (2 minutes, 18.11 seconds) and 100 freestyle (1:01.65). Three-time state diving qualifier Gabbie Meier took the diving competition (220.75) and the 500 freestyle (6:10.78) in her first time swimming that event this year.
“It was really nice to just have like a chill meet where you could be put in off events,” Meier said. “We didn’t have a lot of pressure on us. (The 500 freestyle) was the only event I hadn’t swam this year, so I wanted to try it and see how I could do.”
Gabbie Meier
East’s Connelly Furnish won the 100 butterfly (1:08.99) and 100 backstroke (1:12.90). Cassidy Furnish took the 200 individual medley (2:36.14), and senior Grace Hale captured the 50 freestyle (30.09).
The Olympians had wins from all-senior units with Hale, Ali Trueblood, Meier and Grace Lykins in the 200 medley relay (2:14.09) and Trueblood, Hale, Meier and VanValkenburg in the 200 freestyle relay (1:55.72). Abby Proffitt, Cassidy Furnish, Connelly Furnish and VanValkenburg took the 400 freestyle relay (4:12.39).
Judah Nickoll
Senior Judah Nickoll led the East boys with wins in the 50 freestyle (23.07) and 100 backstroke (1:00.11).
“I thought it was a great last meet at East,” Nickoll said. “This pool is really nostalgic for me. I really like it here, so I’m glad that we were able to have a good last meet here at the home pool.”
Misha Machavariani won the 500 freestyle (5:11.88) and 100 breaststroke (1:07.07), and senior Cavan Stilson captured the 200 freestyle (1:55.61). Other winners for the Olympians were Ethan Hall in the 200 IM (2:14.20), Gavin Day in the diving (244.30) and Todd Hundley in the 100 freestyle (53.43).
East’s Nickoll, senior Jesse Isaacs, Machavariani and Stilson won the 200 medley relay (1:47.51). Keaton Stephenson, Machavariani, Nickoll and Stilson took the 200 freestyle relay (1:31.77).
“I thought they raced pretty well,” East coach Doug Trueblood said. “We moved of people around, doing a lot of events that they haven’t done. I wanted to try to make sure they had some good races between the Greensburg crew and our crew, and I think we were able to do that. We swam a little bit extra this morning to kind of pick up because we have (boys) conference Saturday. But I think the kids looked really good.
“It was good fun for both sides,” he added. “They had a good time, and that’s the key on senior night.”
