The defending state champion Pioneer girls’ swimming and diving team jumped into the pool with rival Skyline on Thursday and flexed their muscles in front of their friendly rivals. The Pioneers, ranked No. 1 in Division 1 this season after last year’s dominant run to another state title, knocked off the Eagles 135.5-50.5 in an SEC dual-meet.
The meet featured plenty of outstanding young swimmers and more than a few talented veterans in the meet featuring two of the best swim programs in the state.
Pioneer opened the meet by going one-two in the medley relay. The team of Bridgette Kamara, Ursula Ott, Reese Heidenreich and Meg Pinkerton won the race with a time of 1 minute, 49.60 seconds.
Pioneer senior Stella Chapman won the 200 free in 1:52. 60. Skyline freshman Adrienne Schadler was second (1:53.50) and Pioneer freshman Suryn Lee was third (1:58.96).
Pioneer swept the 200 IM with freshman Jayla Kuzak first (2:08.56), Heidenreich second (2:13.74) and Harper Feyen third (2:17.52). Skyline freshman Julianna Peoples was fourth (2:19.24).
In the 50 free, Pioneer’s Kate Van Ryn sprinted to a first-place finish with a time of 24.16 seconds. Pinkerton was second for the Pioneers in 24.91. Skyline’s Shannen Lee was third in 25.35.
A pair of juniors landed one-two in diving for the Pioneers. Arianna Pagel was first (221 points) and Grace Daly was second (189.80). Skyline’s Violet Schrag was third with 174.65 points followed by Skyline teammate Teagan McCallion with 174 points.
Kuzak returned to the winner’s circle for the Pioneers with her first-place time of 59.03 in the butterfly. Peoples had another strong swim for the Eagles with her second-place time of 1:03.88. Speaking of strong swimmers, Pioneer freshman Feyen was third in 1:03.92. Another freshman, Cecilia Cook was fourth for Pioneer in 1:05.80.
The Pioneers swept the 100 free with Van Ryn first (53.70), Ott second (53.72) and Pinkerton third (54.68). Skyline’s Allie Deininger was also third in 54.68. Pioneer’s Amani Sanogo was fifth in 55.90.
Schadler, the Skyline frosh who almost won the 200 free, picked up her first victory against the rival Pioneers when she went 5:03.95 to win an exciting race in the 500 free. The Pioneers took the next three spots with Chapman second (5:04.01), Ava Griffith, a sophomore, third (5:32.47) and junior Peren Boduch fourth (5:42.30). Skyline’s Sofia Torres was fifth (5:42.92).
In the 200 free relay, the Pioneer team of Ott, Pinkerton, Kuzak and Chapman took first in 1:39.02. Skyline’s team of Lee, Deininger, Torres and Schadler was second in 1:43.74. Pioneer’s team of Heidenreich, Sanogo, Aubrey Baumhover and Feyen was third in 1:44.41.
Kamara, a junior, won the backstroke in 1:01.42 for Pioneer. Teammate Rachel Brewbaker, a senior, was second in 1:03.87. Skyline’s Britta Coultas was third (1:04.61) and teammate Lee was fourth (1:04.86).
Pioneer swept the breaststroke with Ott first (1:06.42), Heidenreich second (1:07.48) and Lee third (1:11.19). Nielsen was fourth for Skyline in 1:13.01.
In the 400 free relay, the Pioneer team of Chapman, Kuzak, Van Ryn and Kamara was first in 3:37.39. Pioneer’s foursome of Sanogo, Feyen, Cook and Griffith was second in 3:48.64. Skyline’s team of Deininger, Peoples, Anika Vaitkevicius and Schadler was third in 3:49.99.
Main Photo by Terry Jacoby
