CHS Swim Team Scores Season High, Looking Forward to Final Meet

Submitted by Coach Osborne

    In the final meet before the City Meet, the Central Boys’ Swim Team scored a season high 165 points and placed 5th last Saturday.  The boys were once again led by freshman Matthew Arnold, who finished 1st in the 500 yard freestyle and 3rd in the 100 yard backstroke. 

    The 500 yard freestyle turned into the Wildcats’ signature event of the day.  Matthew Arnold not only won the event, but he also cut an amazing 29 seconds from his time three weeks ago to finish in just 5:33.18.  Central also took second in the event with Sean Murphy finishing in 6:32.23.  For the girls’ team, Beka Lizarraga and Jessica Hooper scored points in the 500 yard freestyle despite both swimmers fighting an illness.

    One of the highlights of the meet was a first year swimmer that qualified for state.   Kade McAdams, who has been less than a second from qualifying for state all year in the 50 yard freestyle, finished in 26.68 seconds to qualify for the state meet.  Kade is also a member of the wrestling team coached by Justin Stafford.  Coach Stafford, who finished 3rd in the state in the 50 yard freestyle in high school, gave Kade some extra motivation before the meet on Friday.  Coach Stafford told Kade if he did not make the state time, he was going to have to wrestle Coach Stafford and Coach Steve Johnson on Monday.  Kade said that was all the motivation he needed. 

    Two other Wildcats scored points in both of their individual events.  Mary Catherine Hodges finished 11th in the 50 yard freestyle with a time of 28 seconds, and 10th in the 100 yard breaststroke with a time of 1:23.59.  Meanwhile, Daniel Parker had his best meet of the year.  Daniel finished 10th in the 50 yard freestyle with a time of 25.85 seconds, and 4th in the 100 yard breastroke with a time of 1:15.62.

    For the first time all year, the boys and girls teams scored points in all 6 relays.  In order for that to happen, a number of swimmers had to step up and perform in different strokes.  For the girls, Hollie Michelli, Tara Termini, and Emerald Roney filled out the relays.  Emerald also scored points in the 100 yard freestyle and 100 yard backstroke.  For the boys, Aaron Raggio, Tanner Stockton, and Shelby Eisworth helped the relays score points.

    The regular season ending City Meet is set for next weekend at Crawfish Aquatics.  The girls’ preliminaries are in the morning of Saturday, November 5th.  The boys’ preliminaries are in the afternoon the same day.  The finals for both boys and girls are in the afternoon on Sunday, November 6th.