GHS swimmers sweep NP

ROACHDALE -- Between having a meet on Tuesday and finals going on this week, Greencastle's head coach Luke Beasley knew his swimmers had a lot on their minds.

But when the Tiger Sharks jumped in the pool Thursday night for their intra-county meet with North Putnam, it was business as usual.

The boys team won 126-45 while the girls won 132-34 and according to Beasley, it was a night of personal bests.

"We had about 20 personal bests tonight between the boys and girls," Beasley said. "And for them to do that when they are stressed, tired and have a lot of things going on in their lives, you have to be proud of them.

"It's finals week for these kids and they had a meet on Tuesday and they have one on Saturday they have to think about. So this is a hectic time for these kids, because they have to worry about their grades, because academics come first and then have swim practice on top of that. Plus having meets that go on till 9 p.m. So, yes, I am proud of them," Beasley said. "They came out here and competed and once they go into the pool they focused their body and minds on the water. That's why you are seeing such good swims."

The only two events that Greencastle did not win were the 50 and 100-yard freestyle events. Jeremy Ban of North Putnam won both of those.

"Jeremy has been having a great year so far," Beasley said about the Cougar swimmer. "He out-touched Walter Chiarella in the 100-freestyle and Walter swam a great race."

Ban swam a 53.58 while Chiarella finished with a 53.63.

"We knew coming into this that Ban was a fast kid, but at the same time, Walter stepped up his game and swam a personal best," Beasley said.

One of the other swimmers on the boys' team that had an impressive night was Renegade Vandiver. He finished third in the third in the 50 freestyle and won the 100 butterfly.

"Vandiver had his best time in the 50 free by a second tonight and he completed his first 100 butterfly race, which he was nervous about. But he got through it and did a great job," Beasley said.

In the girls' meet, Greencastle won all but one race -- the 100-yard breaststroke.

That honor went Caroline Byrd. She won the race with a time of 1:26.70.

The rest of the night belonged to the Lady Tiger Sharks.

The one swimmer who caught Beasley's eye Thursday night was Melissa Ball.

"She broke the 26 mark in the 50 free, swimming a high 25, witch was excellent," Beasley said. "She is on fire right now. She has been putting her head down and training hard and smart and we are really excited about her progress."

Ball won the 50 free with a time of 25.97.

Sydney Terry and Melanie Bittles also had impressive nights. They both swam a personal best in the 200 IM with Terry winning with a 2:43.72 and Bittles finishing third with a 2:43.86.

Despite losing the meet, North Putnam head coach Wesley Richardson praised his team for its effort.

"I thought we did a good job tonight," Richardson said. "I noticed that all of our times in all of our events are getting faster, so I'm pleased with that."

At North Putnam

Girls Results

Greencastle 132, N. Putnam 34

200 Medley Relay -- 1 Greencastle (Bittles, Terry, Beams, Aring) 2:21.13, 2. North Putnam (Harper, Foltz, Byrd, Lasiter) 2:21.34, 3. Greencastle (St. Marie, Hedge, Dory, Howard) 2:33.89

200 Freestyle -- 1. Culler (GC) 2:27.18, 2. Liveoak (GC) 3:00.87, 3. Mason (GC) 3:08.48, 4. Preecs (NP) 3:12.29

200 IM -- 1. Terry (GC) 2:43.72, 2. Harper (NP) 2:42.80, 3. Bittles (GC) 2:43.86, 4. Beams (GC)

50 Freestyle -- 1. Ball (GC) 25.97, 2. Foltz (NP) 28.24, 3. Howard (GC) 30.62, 4. Lasiter (NP) 33.38, 5. St. Marie (GC) 34.03, 6. Kaufman (NP) 35.21

Diving -- 1. Good (GC), 2. Seahorn (GC), 3. Williams (GC)

100 Butterfly -- 1. Beams (GC) 1:13.87, 2. Aring (GC) 1:17.21

100 Freestyle -- 1. Terry (GC) 1:04.25, 2. Harper (NP) 1:04.82, 3. Bittles (GC) 1:05.77, 4. Foltz (NP) 1:05.86, 5. Howard (GC) 1:05.96, 6. Kaufman (NP) 1:18.28

200 Freestyle Relay -- 1. Greencastle (Ball, Terry, Howard, Aring) 1:56.08, 2. North Putnam (Foltz, Byrd, Lasiter, Harper) 2:01.12, 3. Greencastle (St. Marie, Dory, Hedge, Culler) 2:10.15

100 Backstroke -- 1. Ball (GC) 1:08.58, 2. Dory (GC) 1:24.18, 3. St. Marie (GC) 1:28.96, 4. Preecs (NP) 1:47.33

500 Freestyle -- 1. Culler (GC) 6:43.08, 2. 2. Dory (GC) 7:08.91, 3. Liveoak (GC) 7:39.81

100 Breaststroke -- 1. Byrd (NP) 1:26.70, 2. Hedge (GC) 1:33.10, 3. Good (GC) 1:34.64

400 Freestyle Relay -- 1. Greencastle (Mason, Liveoak, Hedge, Culler) 5:25.43

Boys Results

Greencastle 126, North Putnam 45

200 Medley Relay -- 1. Greencastle (Asbell, Watson, Elkins, Smith) 1:56.31, 2. North Putnam (Lehr, Ban, James, Smith) 2:03.03, 3. North Putnam (Clodfelter, E. Volland, Hendershot, Zuver) 2:20.92, 4. Greencaste (Simms, Timm, Lee, Bell) 2:24.41

200 Freestyle -- 1. Ball (GC) 2:35.91, 2. Kass (GC) 2:16.62, 3. Smith 2:17.83, 4. Bell (GC) 2:35.91

200 IM -- 1. 1. Chiarella (GC) 2:20.44, 2. Asbell (GC) 2:16.62, 3. Smith (NP) 2:42.24

50 Freestyle -- 1. Ban (NP) 24.17, 2. Elkins (GC) 24.43, 3. Vandiver (GC) 26.66, 4. Lehr (NP) 28.43, 5. Zuver (NP) 28.67, 6. Katigar (GC) 29.22

Diving -- 1. Simms (GC), 2. Stodghill (GC) 3. Zuver (NP), 4. Clodfelter (NP), 5. Brunter (GC), 6. B. Volland (NP)

100 Freestyle -- 1. Ban (NP) 53.58, 2. Chiarella (GC) 53.63, 3. Ball (GC) 59.61, 4. Bell (GC) 1:03.39

500 Freestyle -- 1. Watson (GC) 6:20.59, 2. Asbell (GC) 6:30.06, 3. Kastisa (GC) 7:26.95

200 Freestyle Relay -- 1. Greencastle (Elkins, Ball, Chiarella, Smith) 1:38.13, 2. North Putnam (James, Zuver, Smith, Ban) 1:47.43, 3. Greencastle (Timm, Eubank, Stodghill, Lee) 1:53.34, 4. North Putnam (Lehr, B. Volland, E. Volland, Hendershot) 2:03.49, 5. Greencastle (Vandiver, Kastise, Bell, Kose) 2:06.52

100 Backstroke -- 1. Smith (GC) 1:11.33, 2. Smith (NP) 1:14.42, 3. Simas (GC) 1:20.70, 4. Lee (GC) 1:33.07

100 Breaststroke -- 1. Kass (GC) 1:15.78, 2. Elkins (GC) 1:10.01, 3. Hendershot (NP) 1:18.98, 4. James (NP) 1:22.37, 5. E. Volland (NP) 1:35.07, 6. Timm (GC) 1:35.42

400 Freestyle -- 1. Greencastle (Chiarella, Kass, Watson, Ball) 4:06.17