By Kyle McCaskey

As the boys’ swim season wore on, it became clear the hierarchy in the Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail League Division I was Maize, then Derby, then everybody else. 

There were no surprises at the league meet this past Saturday in Salina. Maize proved its state-caliber strength, routing the field with 395 points. Derby claimed second with 231, followed by Hutchinson with 190.

“We got a little scare from Hutch this year – closer than I thought it would be, I guess,” said Jimmy Adams, Derby head coach. “Going into it, I figured we’d have to swim really bad not to be second, and something major would have to happen for us to win.”

Maize won 10 of 12 events. Derby came close on occasion to knocking off the Eagles’ elite.

Senior Erik Russell finished a little more than 0.4 of a second behind Maize’s Gavin Olson in the 100-yard butterfly. Russell was two seconds slower than Mitchell Wagner in the 100 backstroke.

Bryce Hill nearly nipped Christopher Clemons in the 100 breaststroke. Hill’s time of 1:04.93 fell just short of Clemons’ 1:04.70. Derby’s 200 medley relay also placed second.

Jackson Sandstrom provided Derby’s other top-three performance in the 50 freestyle, taking third. 

Adams said he received strong secondary showings from Collin Gosvener, Ryan Dodds and Blake Little. However, Adams’ sophomore class of swimmers stumbled at times with their performances. 

Adams has tasked himself with determining how to get more from them in the future. 

“I think nerves might have played a factor a little bit this weekend,” he said. “I’m not putting it on the boys. Maybe I made a mistake somewhere down the line.”

Derby will have several competitors in the 6A state meet this Thursday, Friday and Saturday in Topeka.

Hill is qualified in the 100 breaststroke, and may compete in the 200 individual medley and 100 butterfly. Sandstrom will swim in the 50 freestyle, and has also made consideration time in the 100 freestyle.

Russell will take his final shot at an individual state championship in the 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke. Adams said Russell is capable of bringing home the title in the 100 backstroke. He placed third in the event a year ago.

“Erik is definitely one of the boys who gets up for big events. I think he’s still going to be hungry,” Adams said. “I think he’s going to be eager and ready to go after it. 

“I don’t question that kid’s heart at all.”

Dalton Kendall and Liam Ormiston will also compete in relays for the Panthers. 

Carl Mayou and Kole Nottingham made consideration times in two events each for Derby. Whether it was enough to earn a trip to state was decided on Tuesday, after the Informer’s press time.

As a team, Adams hopes the Panthers can crack the top 10. It is no easy task, as the 6A meet is typically dominated by schools from the Northeast part of the state. Derby placed 15th in 2011. 

 

Ark Valley-Chisholm Trail League Division I Championship

Feb. 11 at Salina

Team Results: Maize 395, Derby 231, Hutchinson 190, Newton 175, Salina South 170, Campus 113, Salina Central 111

Individual results (Top three finishers and top Derby time):

200 medley relay- Maize 1:38.36; Derby 1:45.28; Salina South 1:48.14

200 free- Gavin Olson, Maize 1:49.01; Blaine Stewart, Campus 1:51.97; Eric Mullins, Hutchinson 1:53.62

200 IM- Mitchell Wagner, Maize 1:57.96; Christopher Clemons, Maize 2:03.83; Cameron Spreier, Newton 2:04.95

50 free- Lucas Popp, Maize 21.79; Stewart, Hutchinson 23.49; Jackson Sandstrom, Derby 23.51

100 butterfly- Gavin Olson, Maize 54.32; Erik Russell, Derby 54.76; Darnell, Salina South 56.90

100 free- Lucas Popp, Maize 47.58; Bryce Kampfe, Salina South 49.87; Stewart, Hutchinson 51.11

500 free- Kyle Allison, Maize 47.58; Alex Trumble, Newton 5:11.49; Martin, Salina Central 5:16.11

200 free relay- Hutchinson 1:34.47; Campus 1:37.28; Maize 1:38.55 

100 backstroke- Mitchell Wagner, Maize 52.83; Erik Russell, Derby 54.66; Bryce Kampfe, Salina South 56.09

100 breaststroke- Christopher Clemons, Maize 1:04.70; Bryce Hill, Derby 1:04.93; Ferguson, Hutchinson 1:07.57

400 free relay- Maize 3:17.86; Derby 3:27.74; Hutchinson 3:27.77

1 meter diving- Bell, Salina Central 331.10; Ben Forrester, Salina South 327.55; Korinek, Salina Central, 289.30

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