Two Pirate freshmen set new team records in 50 freestyle

The Bluffton High School swim team opened their 2022 season at the Waterdog Sprint meet hosted by Celina High School and held at the Jay County Pool in Indiana on December 3.

Seventeen teams from the region competed in the sprint meet that included four events: the 50 freestyle, 50 butterfly, 50 backstroke and 50 breaststroke. There were about 170 girls and 90 boys competing for the day. Top 16 places in each event scored points for their team.

The Bluffton boys team won the meet with 187.5 points from six swimmers. St. Mary’s finished second with 115 points and Ottawa Glandorf finished third with 75.5 points.

The Bluffton girls placed third with 85 points from eight swimmers. Ottawa Glandorf took the top honor with 109 points and Fort Recovery finished in second with 92 points.

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Two freshman set new team records in their debut with the team, both in the 50 freestyle. Jenna Downey's time of 26.25 replaces Izzy Stechschulte’s record of 26.61 from last season. Jackson Bowlus swam a 23.33, breaking Riley Verb’s 23.54 record set in 2021.

The Bluffton High School Pirates are coached by head coach Rachel Diller and assistant coach, Bob Verb.

Ella Armstrong - junior
50 freestyle: 27.85
50 backstroke: 34.81 (PR)
50 breaststroke: 37:31 (PR)

Landon Armstrong – senior, 31.5 team points
50 freestyle: 24.92 placed 8
50 butterfly: 27.91 (PR) placed 14
50 backstroke: 30.64 (PR) placed 12
50 breaststroke: 31.74 (PR) placed 6

Jackson Bowlus – freshman, 61 team points
50 freestyle: 23.33 (PR and new school record) placed 2
50 butterfly: 26.33 (PR) placed 2
50 backstroke: 27.39 placed 3
50 breaststroke: 31.98 (PR) placed 8

Lena Brown – sophomore
50 freestyle: 35.62
50 backstroke: 46.02 (PR)

Lilly Dagani – freshman
50 freestyle: 33.01
50 butterfly: 37.33
50 backstroke: 37.62
50 breaststroke: 43.56

Allison Diller – senior, 18 team points
50 freestyle: 27.18 placed 13
50 butterfly: 31.02 (PR) placed 16
50 backstroke: 32.25 (PR) placed 11
50 breaststroke: 35.46 placed 10

Xavier Diller – sophomore, 6 team points
50 freestyle: 25.35 placed 16
50 butterfly: 27.78 (PR) placed 12
50 backstroke: 31.47 (PR)

Jenna Downey – freshman, 48 team points
50 freestyle: 26.25 (PR and new school record) placed 2
50 butterfly: 29.13 (PR) placed 3
50 backstroke: 30.81 (PR) placed 4

Jacob Lehman – junior
50 freestyle: 27.92 (PR)
50 butterfly: 30.95 (PR)
50 backstroke: 34.30

Zoe Shank – sophomore
50 freestyle: 32.25 (PR)
50 butterfly: 36.67 (PR)
50 backstroke: 37.82 (PR)
50 breaststroke: 44.56 (PR)

Izzy Stechschulte – junior, 19 team points
50 butterfly: 29.71 (PR) placed 11
50 backstroke: 33.05 (PR)
50 breaststroke: 34.68 placed 6

Riley Verb – senior, 73 team points
50 freestyle: 23.79 placed 3
50 butterfly: 25.97 (PR) placed 1
50 backstroke: 26.21 (PR) placed 1
50 breaststroke: 29.89 placed 2

Charles Wright – sophomore, 16 team points
50 freestyle: 25.04 (PR) placed 12
50 butterfly: 27.18 (PR) placed 8
50 backstroke: 31.76 (PR)
50 breaststroke: 38.16 (PR)

Rory Youngpeter – sophomore
50 freestyle: 31.62 (PR)
50 butterfly: 35.19 (PR)
50 backstroke: 36.00
50 breaststroke: 40.27