Licking County swims to strong showing in CHAMPS meet

CANAL WINCHESTER - Henry Whitman won two events this past Friday to lead the Moundbuilders Piranhas during competition in the Tri-County Aquatic League CHAMPS meet in Canal Winchester.

Whitman won the boys 11- and 12-year-old 50 meter backstroke (34.54) and 11-12 50 breaststroke (41.69) to lead the Moundbuilders boys to a fifth-place finish out of nine teams. Gavin Lewis added a title in the 9-10 50 freestyle (35.92) and a third in the 9-10 25 backstroke (22.88).

Other top placers for the boys were Miles Baker third in the 8U 25 free (19.16) and fifth in the 8U 25 butterfly (25.98); Eli Winterhalter third in the 9-10 25 free (18.66) and fifth in the 9-10 25 fly (22.03); Sam McKenney fourth in the 6U 25 back (32.49) and fifth in the 6U 25 free (28.50) and Nolan Schneider second in the 8U 25 breaststroke (26.19).

Olivia Lewis was the top Moundbuilders placer in the girls competition, taking runner-up in the 9-10 25 back (19.71) and third in the 9-10 25 free (16.49).

Issaac Hansen and Ethan Miller were double champions for the Pataskala Porpoises boys to lead them to a runner-up finish with 208 points, trailing just Chevington Woods. Hansen won the 13-14 100 individual medley (1:08.23) and 13-14 50 free (26.59), and Miller won the 13-14 50 back (30.84) and 13-14 50 fly (29.49). Will Stought added a title in the 9-10 25 breaststroke (20.73) and a third-place finish in the 9-10 100 IM (1:36.06).

Other top placers were Ryan Stought second in the 8U 25 free (18.70) and third in the 8U 25 fly (23.05), and Spencer Kleeh, Ian Jarvis, Skylar Chapman and Jacob Raver second in the 15-18 200 free relay (1:50.37).

Gabrielle Brust won the 13-14 100 IM (1:06.70) and 13-14 50 back (31.40) to lead the Pataskala girls to a fourth-place team finish. Sophia Lochard added a title in the 9-10 100 IM (1:31.77) and placed second in the 9-10 25 free (16.40)

Other top placers were Ava Dutton second in the 8U 25 fly (19.51) and third in the 8U 25 free (18.68); Gabby Culver third in the 8U 25 back (23.35) and third in the 8U 25 breaststroke (25.43) and Abby Jarvis third in the 15-18 100 back (1:17.84).

Lydia Sturgeon was the highest finisher for the Granville Stingrays in the girls competition. She placed fourth in the 9-10 100 IM (1:43.30) and sixth in the 9-10 25 fly (19.54). Grace Havens added a 10th in the 15-18 50 free (33.66) and Malana Sturgeon an 11th in the 9-10 25 fly (22.58).

Leading the Granville boys were Aaron Sargent with a fifth in the 15-18 50 free (27.22) and a seventh in the 15-18 100 back (1:19.02). Nathan DeMent was right in front of Sargent in the 15-18 100 back (1:18.11) and Michael Donelan was ninth in the 13-14 50 fly (37.57).