More than 400 entrants, part of the Tri-State Conference, converged on Pittsburg, Kan., over the weekend for the Pittsburg YMCA Invitational swim meet at the Pittsburg YMCA.
The Joplin Stingrays, scoring 720.50 points, finished first, followed by Carthage with 309 points. The Monett Water Thrashers captured third with 277 points, Lamar followed with 247.50 points for fourth, and Pittsburg placed fifth with 180 points.
In all, 10 teams, including the Carthage Aquatic Swim Team, took part in the two-day meet, which concluded on Sunday.
Next, the Carthage Aquatic Swim Team, made up of boys and girls ranging from kindergarten through 18 years old, head to Nevada for a one-day dual, slated for today at the Walton Family Aquatic Center.
High-point trophy winners in the two-day meet at Pittsburg included Olivia Bene, who continues to have a stellar season in the 8-and-under girls’ division, and Seth Jensen in the 10-and-under boys’ division. Blake Arnold finished third in the 10-and-under boys’ division.
Olivia Bene captured first in six events: the 25-yard freestyle, 25-yard backstroke, 100-yard individual medley, 25-yard butterfly, 50-yard butterfly and 25-yard breaststroke.
Seth Jensen captured first in two events: the 50-yard backstroke and the 50-yard breaststroke. Jensen also helped the 100-yard medley relay team, comprised of Jacques Bene, Arnold and Tommy Neuenswander and Jensen, finish first in the boys’ 10-and-under 100-yard medley.
Arnold placed first in the 100-yard individual medley, second in the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard freestyle, third in the 50-yard backstroke and fourth in the 50-yard freestyle.
Brandon Hazlett, competing in the boys’ 15-18-year-old division, placed first in the 200-yard freestyle. Hazlett also placed third in the 50-yard backstroke and 100-yard freestyle. In the 200-yard medley relay, Hazlett helped A.J. Dolon, Jonathan Batchelor and Chris Herbst place second. The boys’ 15-18-year-old 200-yard freestyle relay team, featuring Dolon, Batchelor, Jarrett Garber and Hazlett, finished second overall.
Hunter Yust, Luke Mouton, Addison Burr and Alex Kennedy, competing in the boys’ 11-12-year-old 200-yard freestyle, captured first. The boys’ 8-and-under 100-yard medley relay team, comprised of Joe Nicholas, Brayden Cole, Patrick Carlton and Lucas Neuenswander, finished second.
Carlton, competing in the boys’ 6-and-under 25-yard freestyle, finished third before placing third in the 25-yard backstroke. In the 200-yard individual medley, Dolon captured fourth, earning three points for Carthage, before garnering another fourth-place finish in the 50-yard breaststroke.
The girls’ 13-14-year-old 200-yard freestyle relay team, featuring Cailin Dawley, Taylor Hart, Abbie Kennedy and Amanda Arnold, finished first.
In the girls’ 6-and-under 25-yard butterfly, Sophie Bene earned three points after finishing fourth overall, while Alex Kennedy, competing in the boys’ 11-12-year-old 50-yard freestyle finished second. Alex Kennedy went on to finish second in the 100-yard freestyle. In the girls’ 15-18-year-old 50-yard butterfly, Jordynn Brown, a state qualifier during the prep season, finished fourth.
