Tiger Sharks roll past Wildcats 113-73

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Coaches in any sport dread Monday events. While the kids may be well rested, they are also out of practice. It can be a time for big letdowns from any team.

With this in mind, Greencastle boys' swimming coach Daniel Bretscher was understandably pleased with the Tiger Sharks' 113-73 win over South Vermillion Monday night at McAnally Center.

"Monday meets are always tough because the kids come back after the weekend having not swum much," Bretscher said. "For it being a Monday meet, it went very well."

Well, indeed. The Sharks won 10 of 12 events against the Wildcats, even with swimmers out of their regular events and routines.

"We were able to swim in some of our off events tonight, which is good to see because you always learn new things," Bretscher said.

"We had good performances tonight from Phil Kass, Dakota Campbell and Bryan Sanders," he continued. "They swam some new events and really pulled through well for us. I'm please with them."

For Campbell, the new event was the 100 butterfly, an event some inexperienced swimmers are fortunate to finish. Campbell came home in 1:38.78.

Sanders swam the 100 backstroke in 1:47.58. Kass finished the 100 breaststroke in 1:53.12.

Greencastle junior Nick Stevens swims the 500 freestyle, part of an impressive stretch of three straight events in which he won the 100 and 500 as well as leading off the winning 200 free relay team.

The evening's most impressive performance was from Nick Stevens. The junior picked up back-to-back-to-back wins in the 100 freestyle (56.00), 500 freestyle (5:25.77) and as the lead swimmer in the 200 free relay.

The feat is even more remarkable considering there were no girls' events in between to give Stevens rest time.

"I wanted to challenge him, try something new for him. He's the kind of guy that whatever you throw at him, he's gonna go after it," Bretscher said. "He did a lot better than I thought he would. The 500, which came after the 100, was only three seconds off his season best.

"I was pretty surprised, but he's the kind of guy that eats that stuff up," the coach continued.

The winning 200 free relay team of Stevens, Jay Guffey, Miles Salman and Luke Crimmins captured first with a 1:38.94. Crimmins, Walter Chiarella, Stevens and Jon Grivas won the 200 medley relay in 1:56.42.

The 400 free relay team of Grivas, Austin Woodall, Luke Smith and Salman was also victorious in 3:55.44.

Individually, Crimmins won the 50 freestyle (23.41) and the 100 butterfly (59.72).

Salman won the 200 IM in 2:19.73. Adam Clute captured the 100 backstroke in 1:07.66, while Ryan Payne won the 100 breaststroke in 1:07.89.

After what he considers a rocky start, Bretscher is pleased with his team's progress heading into Thursday's meet with North Putnam and the holiday break thereafter.

"We have really good momentum going right now," Bretscher said. "We started the season a little more out of shape than I would like, but the work ethic's great and we've got great momentum going into the holiday break.

"Hopefully we can work hard on break and come out extra fit after the holidays," he concluded.

The Tiger Sharks visit the Cougars in a coed meet at 6 p.m. Thursday.

At Greencastle

Boys' Results

Greencastle 113, South Vermillion 73

Individual Results (GHS only)

200 Medley Relay -- 1. Crimmins, Chiarella, Stevens, Grivas 1:56.42; 3. Clute, Kass, Sutherlin, Woodall 2:16.82; 6. Sanders, Stodghill, Campbell, Wilson 2:41.13

200 Freestyle -- 3. Smith 2:23.93, 5. Kass 2:30.13, 6. Watson 2:30.89

200 IM -- 1. Salman 2:19.73, 2. Payne 2:27.26, 4. Woodall 2:27.99

50 Freestyle -- 1. Crimmins 23.41, 2. Guffey 25.57, 4. Clute 25.84

Diving -- 3. Stodghill 130.40, 5. Guffey 110.50

100 Butterfly -- 1. Crimmins 59.72, 3. Salman 1:04.92, 6. Campbell 1:38.78

100 Freestyle -- 1. Stevens 56.00, 2. Grivas 57.01, 4. Smith 1:02.17

500 Freestyle -- 1. Stevens 5:25.77, 2. Woodall 5:41.11, 5. Sutherlin 6:38.23

200 Freestyle Relay -- 1. Stevens, Guffey, Salman, Crimmins 1:38.94; 3. Payne, Kass, Grivas, Smith 1:45.98; 6. Watson, Stodghill, Wilson, Campbell 2:20.06

100 Backstroke -- 1. Clute 1:07.66, 3. Sutherlin 1:19.01, 6. Sanders 1:47.58

100 Breaststroke -- 1. Payne 1:07.89, 2. Chiarella 1:16.47, 6. Kass 1:53.12

400 Freestyle Relay -- 1. Grivas, Woodall, Smith, Salman 3:55.44; 3. Sutherlin, Watson, Kass, Chiarella 4:29.66; 6. Campbell, Wilson, Stodghill, Sanders 5:40.74

Next meet -- The Tiger Sharks visit North Putnam at 6 p.m. Thursday for a coed meet.

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