Butler swimmers swamp Mars

Butler swimmers swamp Mars

BUTLER TWP — Ken Bedford has been poolside for Butler for years, but never like this.
Bedford, the longtime Tornado diving coach, has assumed the head coaching duties as well.
He's enjoyed what he's seen so far.
On Thursday, the Butler girls squad improved to 2-0 with a 101-83 victory over Mars (1-2) while the boys team (1-1) relied on its depth to down the Planets 96-76.
“The thing I like this year is that they are coming together as a team,” Bedford said. “It's a lot more apparent since I'm a lot more involved. I see it a lot more than in the past.”
In the girls meet, Emily Bruce won the 50 and 100 freestyle events in 26.96 and 58.19 seconds, and anchored the winning 200 medley relay (1:59.61).
Brianna Keelan won the 100 backstroke (1:06.93) and Taylor Campbell the 100 breaststroke (1:14.71), and both took part in the winning 200 medley relay.
Not to be outdone, Mars' Maggie Gruber posted wins in the 200 individual medley (2:16.48) and 100 butterfly (57.53), the latter time replaced a pool record set in 1992.
Gruber, who won the 100 butterfly at the PIAA championship meet last season as a freshman, also took part in the winning 200 free relay (1:46.73).
She was joined in that relay by Amanda Alikhani and Jocelyn Lemay, who won the 500 free (5:41.79) and the 200 free (2:07.98), respectively.
“Maggie is absolutely where she needs to be,” said Mars coach Heidi Brandon, who was missing a few swimmers due to illness. “We've got to keep her healthy.”
After Butler's Levi Cetti won the 1-meter diving, the Mars boys team (0-3) won eight of the 11 pool events, including the first four, but the Tornado more than kept pace with several second and third places along the way.
Jack Muehlheuser of Mars won the 50 free and 100 backstroke, Christopher Georgiadis the 200 IM and 100 free and Thomas Pierre the 200 free and 100 breast. The trio made up three-fourths of the winning 200 medley and 400 free relays as well.
Travis Myers (100 fly) and Ryan Deemer (500 free) won individual events for the Tornado.
After a strong effort against Indiana last week, the Tornado have gotten off to a good start, something Bedford hopes will continue.
“We still want to win (the meets), but I want to see the kids give 100 percent, win or lose,” Bedford said.
Girls
Butler 101, Mars 83
200 medley relay: 1-Butler (Brianna Keelan, Taylor Campbell, Jordan McElhaney, Emily Bruce) 1;59.61
200 freestyle: 1-Jocelyn Lemay (M) 2:07.98
200 individual medley: 1-Maggie Gruber (M) 2:16.48
50 freestyle: 1-Emily Bruce (B) 26.96
100 butterfly: 1-Maggie Gruber (M) 57.53 (pool record)
1-meter diving: 1-Meredith Harbison (B) 229.65
100 freestyle: 1-Emily Bruce (B) 58.19
500 freestyle: 1-Amanda Alikhani (M) 5:41.79
200 freestyle relay: 1-Mars (Amanda Alikhani, Caroline Pacey, Jocelyn Lemay, Maggie Gruber) 1:46.73
100 backstroke: 1-Brianna Keelan (B) 1:06.93
100 breaststroke: 1-Taylor Campbell (B) 1:14.71
400 freestyle relay: 1-Mars (Kate Rodriguez, Shelby Shelby Ainsworth, Avery Snyder, Stephanie Wilhelm) 4:30.66
Boys
Butler 96, Mars 76
200 medley relay: 1-Mars (Jack Muehlheuser, Thomas Pierre, Tyler Odom, Christopher Georgiadis) 1:51.27
200 freestyle: 1-Thomas Pierre (M) 2:01.15
200 individual medley: 1-Christopher Georgiadis (M) 2:10.01
50 freestyle: 1-Jack Muehlheuser (M) 24.39
100 butterfly: 1-Travis Myers (B) 1:03.30
1-meter diving: 1-Levi Cetti (B) 199.85
100 freestyle: 1-Christopher Georgiadis (M) 53.42
500 freestyle: 1-Ryan Deemer (B) 5:33.49
200 freestyle relay: 1-Butler (Noah Neigh, Hunter Dimmick, Sam Cleary, Jake Kaufman) 1:40.43
100 backstroke: 1-Jack Muehlheuser (M) 56.15
100 breaststroke: 1-Thomas Pierre (M) 1:11.49
400 freestyle relay: 1-Mars (Thomas Pierre, Matt Lofstrom, Christopher Georgiadis, Jack Muehlheuser) 3:41.12