Columbus East’s Keaton Stephenson competes in the 500-yard freestyle during a meet against Seymour Thursday at Columbus East High School.
Tommy Walker | For The Republic
Five days after the Hoosier Hills Conference girls swim meet and nine days before the HHC boys meet, Columbus East and Seymour had a chance to see how they stacked up against each other in a dual meet.
The Owls, who finished third in the girls conference meet, one spot ahead of the Olympians, beat East 107-74 on Thursday. But the Olympian boys came through with a 112-72 victory against the Owls.
“The boys swam a good meet,” East coach Doug Trueblood said. “Keaton (Stephenson) had some really good swims today. I didn’t expect some of the boys to swim as fast, just because of some of the things we’ve done over the last couple of weeks. But I’m pretty happy with where we’re at. (Seymour coach Dave Boggs’) boys are going to be faster here in a week when we have conference, and our boys should be faster. I think it will be a fun conference meet.”
Stephenson won the 200-yard freestyle (1 minute, 50.38 seconds) and 500 freestyle (5:08.87). The Olympians also got double-wins from Todd Hundley in the 200 individual medley (2:08.61) and 100 backstroke (58.25), Cavan Stilson in the 50 freestyle (23.15) and 100 freestyle (50.42) and Misha Machavariani in the 100 butterfly (53.99) and 100 breaststroke (1:05.43).
East’s Gavin Day captured the diving competition (257.95). The Olympians also took the 200 medley (1:44.66) and 400 freestyle (3:28.49) relays.
The East girls matched the Owls with six event wins, but Seymour had more depth. Connelly Furnish led the Olympians with victories int he 200 IM (2:20.47) and 100 butterfly (1:05.33).
Gabbie Meier won the diving (220.35), and Cassidy Furnish took the 500 freestyle (5:54.94). East also captured the 200 freestyle (1:50.91) and 400 freestyle (4:03.52).
“Dave has a lot of good girls,” Trueblood said. “We just swam them at conference, and they had some good swims. We had really good swims. We were kind of geared up. Tonight, we were a little flat, I think, but I don’t think it changes anything. His girls are tough, and they swam fast. Our girls swam hard. They were a little tired from (practice) this morning, but we’re doing well. I’m happy with where we’re at with the girls.”
