For The Tribune
The Seymour High School girls swim team welcomed a new opponent to the Seymour Aquatic Center Monday night.
The Owls played host to Trinity Lutheran and Providence. Trinity has a swim team for the first time in school history.
There are two members on the Trinity girls team, Rachel Sabotin and Lexi Keller. Keller was unable to compete Monday night as she is battling the flu and left the pool before the meet started.
Seymour easily won the meet, Providence was second and Trinity was third.
Sabotin had a strong meet as she won the 200 individual medley in 2:16.34, and the 100 fly with a time of 1:02.69.
Cougars coach Jennifer Hooker Brinegar said she is having her swimmers strive for improvement during practice and meet-to-meet.
“We’re very small, but they’re making really good progress,” she said.
There are also two boys swimming, and Brinegar said, “All four are really great kids. We have two that were basically swimmers before. Matt Stuckwisch and Rachel Sabotin. We have two that are non-swimmers that are going into the Navy.
“Spencer Muhlbach is actually going in the Navy this summer, and Lexi is trying to get a ROTC scholarship at Ohio State with the Navy. So they want to swim, they’ve learned to swim, and they’ve actually become swimmers in a really short time.
“I push them pretty hard, and they respond well to it. It’s been a lot of fun. Lexi and Rachel have sectionals coming up. I’m hoping Lexi can recover from her illness from today and be good to go in the 50 and 100 free next week, and Rachel has been working hard. She’s a career swimmer.”
Seymour coach Dave Boggs said the Owls swim tired as this was their fourth meet in a week, beginning with the Hoosier Hills Conference meet last Tuesday, followed by meets against Columbus East Thursday and at Bedford North Lawrence Saturday.
“No slam against Providence or Trinity, but this was our fourth meet in seven days. They’re tired physically and mentally. We swam one individual event and one relay, and some girls only swam one relay and they were done.
“I’m concerned how wore going into the taper. They didn’t do badly tonight in some regards. It’s kind of a downward roller coaster effect if you will, and a fatigue factor.
“We need rest and fine tune. The work is over with. They may get a day off.”
Individual winners for the Owls were Bailey Lykins in the 50 free, Marissa Reedy in the 100 free, Molly Hayes in the 200 free, and Libby Rohr in the 500 free.
Elizabeth Hartman won the 100 back, Helen Kelsch won the 100 breast, and Breanna Hammond placed first in diving.
This was the final season meet for both the Owls and Cougars, who will continue their tapers in preparation for sectionals Feb. 2 and 4. The Owls will swim at Floyd Central and the Cougars at Columbus North.
Seymour will host the Trinity and Providence boys Feb. 6.