Bison swim-dive rules both duals at home

he racing action was intense on Thursday but McCook High’s boys (above) and girls like champion school record-setter Leah Spencer (below) swam to victories over two strong opponents at McCook’s Ed Thomas Family YMCA. The Bison won both duals entering their holiday before a big next challenge at Kearney.

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. — McCook High School swimmers and divers claimed wins in duals with both North Platte and Scottsbluff on Thursday at the McCook YMCA, the final meet before Christmas break.

In his second year as head swim and dive coach, Jon Graff said it was the first time in a long time that both the MHS men’s and women’s teams had won a meet.

“It is a testament to the hard work they are putting in both at early morning workouts and afternoon practices,” Graff said. “At each and every meet, they are steadily getting fitter and making improvements, which is exactly what we want to see.”

R.B. Headley/McCook Gazette

Graff added, “I was really proud of the kids who stepped up and swam races they don’t normally swim, who got out of their comfort zone and did really well.”

The Lady Bison were led by junior Leah Spencer, who broke her own 100 yard backstroke record set last week, posting a time of 1:02.03.

Her time was a half second lower than the record she set last week of 1:02.87, which broke a nearly 40-year-old MHS record. Leah also earned first in the 100 yard freestyle with a time of 56.10.

Sophomore Izzy Renner finished second in the 100 yard free with a time of 1:00.45.

She also won the 50 yard free in 27.09, setting a personal best and claiming first place.

Alexis Tucker won the 200 free in 2:08 with Kailynn Rodewald finishing second in 2:15. Alexis also claimed first in the 100 yard butterfly. And freshman Emma Graff finished first in the 100 yard breaststroke with a time of 1:23.43.

On the men’s side, senior Ethan Spencer won both the 50 and 100 yard freestyle events with times of 25.12 and 55.43, respectively.

Freshman Kevin Bantam, a coop swimmer from Medicine Valley, won the 200 yard individual medley in 2:24.36, shaving three seconds of his personal best.

And Deacon Kinne finished first in the men’s 500 free with a time of 5:08 and third in the 200 yard free with 2:15, improving his times in both events.

Other top finishers for McCook who improved their person best times were:

Kailynn Rodewald, 500 yard free, second, 5:59

Abi Nielsen, 200 yard IM, second, 3:02

Joe Barenberg, 100 yard breaststroke, second, 1:12.62

Kevin Bantam, 100 yard breast, third, 1:12.93.

In diving, senior Ethan Graff improved his six-dive score from last week, scoring 173.85 points to win the men’s diving. Sophomore Caleb Shaw was second with a score of 165.

On the women’s side, the top diver for McCook was Emma Graff with a score of 135.75, while junior Gracie Manly earned fourth with 129.25.

With a short break over the holidays, the MHS swim and dive team returns to competition Jan. 8 at Kearney High School.

Watch for results all season.