Pirate swimmers 3rd at Polar Bear Classic
Bowlus named boys MVP
By Cort Reynolds
MARGARETTA__The Bluffton High School swim teams competed well in the Polar Bear Winter Classic Invitational Saturday, February 7 at Margaretta.
The Pirate boys and girls teams each finished third in the PBWC Margaretta Invite.
Bluffton senior Jackson Bowlus was named the boys meet MVP. He touched first in the 50-yard butterfly and in the 25 freestyle sprint races. He also anchored the winning 200 free relay.
Pirate senior Jenna Downey took first in the 25 free and 50 butterfly events. She too swam the last leg of the 200 free relay for the winning Bluffton quartet.
Sophomore Kari Diller won the 100 free and 50 backstroke races. Karden Geiser captured the girls 50 breaststroke.
Top Pirate finishers
Event Place Team Age Swimmer Time
Girls 50 Yard Breaststroke
1 Bluffton Swim Team-OH 16 Geiser, Karden F 36.61
2 Bluffton Swim Team-OH 14 Sterrett, Madelyn 37.90
Boys 25 Yard Freestyle
1 Bluffton Swim Team-OH 15 Bowlus, Jackson T 10.39
4 Bluffton Swim Team-OH 15 Armstrong, Owen L 12.16 6
Girls 25 Yard Freestyle
1 Bluffton Swim Team-OH 18 Downey, Jenna M 11.96
3 Bluffton Swim Team-OH 14 Sterrett, Madelyn 14.02
4 Bluffton Swim Team-OH 16 Geiser, Karden F 14.05
Girls 50 Yard Backstroke
1 Bluffton Swim Team-OH 15 Diller, Kari E 31.21
Girls 100 Yard Freestyle
1 Bluffton Swim Team-OH 15 Diller, Kari E 1:01.97
Boys 50 Yard Butterfly
1 Bluffton Swim Team-OH 18 Bowlus, Jackson T 25.35
4 Verb, Camden 29.19
Girls 50 Yard Butterfly
1 Bluffton Swim Team-OH 18 Downey, Jenna M 27.4
Girls 200 Yard Relay Hierarchy Free Relay
1 Bluffton Swim Team-OH 1:56.28
1) Sterrett, Madelyn 14 2) Diller, Kari E 15
3) McGuire, Kailey R 16 4) Downey, Jenna M 18
Boys 200 Yard Relay Hierarchy Free Relay
1 Bluffton Swim Team-OH 1:39.55
1) Verb, Camden 14 2) Armstrong, Owen L 15
3) Ungashick, Aaron T 16 4) Bowlus, Jackson T 18
Boys 500 Yard Freestyle
2 Bluffton Swim Team-OH 14 Verb, Camden 5:24.77
Girls 200 Yard Freestyle Relay
2 Bluffton Swim Team-OH 1:52.28
- Luginbill, Selah 15 2) Geiser, Karden F 16
- 3) Diller, Kari E 15 4) Downey, Jenna M 18
Boys 50 Yard Breaststroke
3 Bluffton Swim Team-OH 15 Armstrong, Owen L 33.95
Boys 100 Yard Freestyle
3 Bluffton Swim Team-OH 16 Ungashick, Aaron T 54.72
Girls 200 Yard Medley Relay
3 Bluffton Swim Team-OH 2:23.77
1) McGuire, Kailey R 16 2) Geiser, Karden F 16
3) Sterrett, Madelyn 14 4) Luginbill, Selah 15
Boys 200 Yard Freestyle Relay Team
4 Bluffton Swim Team-OH 1:42.56
- Benroth, Bodey 5 2) Fritsch, Max 5
- 3) Armstrong, Owen L 15 4) Bowlus, Jackson T 18
Stories Posted This Week
Friday, November 13, 2026
Thursday, November 12, 2026
- Bluffton Middle School Honor Roll for 1st Quarter, 2026-2027
- Bluffton alumni to discuss lives and vocations in ministry
- Letter: Honoring 20 years of land preservation in West Central Ohio
- Prairie restoration research program on Nov. 20
- Bluffton Lions to hear presentation on humanitarian and disaster relief
- Separate the wheat from the chaff: Multi-ingredient botanicals for cholesterol
- Bluffton Council recap: $5,000 donated for Blaze lights installation
Wednesday, November 11, 2026
Tuesday, November 10, 2026
- Beavers sports roundup, November 2-8
- Veterans invited to Bluffton American Legion programs on Veterans Day
- James Raymond Harrod, Jr., 64, was a PGA professional
- Nathan Ulrey, 46, served in the Navy Seabees
- Letter: Thank you, Coach Richards
- Big Brothers Big Sisters launches 2026 year-end giving campaign
- Socktober drive collected 659 pairs for local distribution
- Jeanne Previte, 80, owned and operated Jeanne's Kitchen
- Bluffton Elementary Honor Roll for 1st Quarter 2026-2027
- Lego scarecrow earns GROB top honors from voters
- Former Blufftonite is lieutenant governor-elect of South Carolina
- University to stage costume drama that mixes emotion, humor and contemporary references
- Bluffton High School Honor Roll for 1st quarter of 2026-2027
- Nov. 13 chamber program on Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities
Monday, November 9, 2026
- Healing and life beyond incarceration explored at Forum
- Nov. 12 opportunity to learn Mahjong
- Door hanger craft class at Pandora library, November 17
- BPL after school movie, November 16
- Hailey's Wellness and Massage provide chair massages at Senior Center
- Bluffton area Women in Business Meeting November 19