FACEBOOK PHOTO ALBUM by Marvin Foster

By Cort Reynolds

BOWLING GREEN – The Bluffton High School boys and girls swim teams competed well in the Div. II northwest district swim meet at Bowling Green State University on Friday.

Pirate sophomores Jackson Bowlus and  Jenna Downey qualified for the Div. II OHSAA state meet in two events each. This event takes place at Canton on February 22-23.

Bluffton sophomore Bowlus qualified in the 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke as well. 

Bowlus finished second in the 100 backstroke in 53.36 to post the top Pirate finish at the BG district. Senior Tyler Foster of Maumee Valley Country Day touched first in 51.55.

Bowlus finished sixth in the district race with a time of 22.2. Senior Jager Ninke of Sandusky Perkins won the event in 21.66.

Bowlus is seeded 14th in the backstroke at state, and 28th in the free by his qualifying times.

Downey qualified in the 50-yard freestyle and 100 butterfly events. 

Downey is seeded 28th at state in the free and 32nd in the fly, according to her district times.

Downey touched fourth in the 100 fly in 61.43. Freshman Mirielle Trumpower of Ontario came in first in 56.7.

Downey finished seventh at BG in the 50 free in a time of 25.16. Sophomore Nora Kunsman of Bryan won the race in 23.85.

Pirate senior Izzy Stechschulte touched seventh in the district 200 freestyle in 2:04.95 to miss state qualification. She also finished 17th in the girls 100 freestyle in a time of 57.69.

Pirate Charles Wright took 16th (57.99) in the 100 butterfly, and teammate Xavier Diller touched the wall 18th (58.3) in the same race.

The Bluffton boys 200 medley relay foursome came in eighth in a time of 1:45.25.

The Lady Pirate 200 medley relay quartet also ended up eighth in 1:56.94 to miss state by 1.09 seconds.

The Bluffton boys 400 freestyle relay quartet finished 15th in 3:31.93 to miss state qualification.

The Pirate boys 200 freestyle relay came in 19th in 1:39.1.

The Div. II state swim preliminary events will be Thursday, Feb. 22 from 5-9 p.m.

The Div. II swim finals races are slated for Friday, Feb. 23 from 5-9 p.m.