Sports : V-S Swimmers have a record-breaking performance

By Rob Levis, V-S boys' swimming coach

Last night we had a great meet at the CR Washington Patrick Karamitrous invitational. The team finished a solid 4th out of 9 teams and there were some really nice performances up and down the line-up.

The headliner was clearly our 400 Free relay team of Kirtz, Allsup, Allsup and Elwick that took first place while shattering both the meet record and the team record. The previous team record of 3:37.00 had been set way back in 1986, making it the longest-standing record. The teams time last night was almost a full four seconds better at 3:33.01.

This meet is a great place for our guys to swim because there is a nice mix of top-level competition and less experienced kids. The format is designed to allow lower level varsity and JV swimmers at the large, MVC schools to have a tapered, championship meet experience. Because of the format, a number of our guys were not in their regular events but we still had some exceptional performances

The Medley Relay involved everyone swimming a stroke other than their regular, best stroke - yet still finished in 3rd place with a solid 1:53.61. The 200 Free Relay captured first place with a season-best time of 1:38.71

Individually Carter Kirtz placed 3rd in the 200 Free with a team-best time of 1:59.15. Isaac Allsup also took a 3rd place medal in the 200 IM. Sophomore Bradyn Schlief made the podium twice with a 3rd in the 100 back and a 6th in the 100 free.

On the evening the team recorded 45 new personal best times. Some big time drops included Sophomore Logan Zearley dropping almost 6 seconds in his 100 breast, freshman Blake Soquet and Steven Wichtendahl dropping 5 and 3 seconds respectively in the 50 free, freshman Ashton Slaton dropping 18 seconds in the 200 Free, and Elias Colsch shaving more than 3 seconds off his 100 breast time.

The team will be hosting the Conference Meet this Saturday at noon at Coe College. Then on Saturday the 8th they will be at districts at the Marshalltown YMCA competing with Marshalltown, Des Moines Dowling, Waterloo, Cedar Falls, Indianola, Newton and Williamsburg for a chance to go to state.