Bison swim-dive hits bests, get firsts at home meet

McCook High senior swimmer Kevin Bantam splashes forward in speedy motorboat fashion while swimming the 100-yard breaststroke during Friday’s Bison home invitational at the McCook Family YMCA. The Medicine Valley student captured second place to go with two event championships as McCook High’s boys team placed top two.

Steve Towery/McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. — After opening the 2024-25 season in Hastings, the McCook High School swim and dive team hosted it first meet Friday at the McCook YMCA.

A full house of swimmers and divers included Hastings, North Platte and Scottsbluff joining the Bison for the first of four home meets.

The opening home meet included several personal bests and first place finishes for the Bison swimmers and divers.

McCook coach Jon Graff said their goal is to make improvements each week.

“The kids competed really well and continue to make progress,” Graff said. “We saw kids cut times in a lot of events, which is what we need to see.”

He added, “We’re still figuring out what this team is capable of and if we work hard, we can get a lot kids qualified for state”

Graff noted that the kids are starting to see the possibilities in a variety of events.

Tate Moser had a good performance in the men’s 500 yard freestyle, placing first but more importantly cutting off 30 seconds from his personal best.

Blake Rodewald and Kevin Bantam both earned first place finishes, helping the McCook men earn second place as a team.

Rodewald finished first in the 100 yard butterfly with a time of 56.75 and second in the 100 yard backstroke in 1:01.68. Bantam claimed first in the 200 yard freestyle with a time of 1:58.13 and second in the 100 yard breaststroke in 1:08.09.

The men’s 400 yard relay also earned a first place finish on a time of 3:37.74 with team members Aaron and Derick Spencer joining Rodewald and Bantam.

For the women, Abby Renner shined in the 100 yard butterfly with a time of 1:05.91 for first place.

She finished second in the 100 yard backstroke on a time of 1:09.24.

Emma Graff added to the point total with a second place finish in the 100 yard breaststroke on a time of 1:20.28.

The meet opened with diving, led by Maryann Kassner placing first for the Bison on the ladies’ side, while Emma Graff earned third in the six-dive meet.

McCook hosts its second meet Thursday at the YMCA with Scottsbluff and North Platte returning again.

Diving will start at 2 p.m. with swim events following, around 3:30 p.m.