January 22, 2004

SPORTS

Boys are 3rd, girls 7th in Clark meet

The YSHS boys swim team placed third and the girls team finished seventh last weekend during the 10-team County Invitational hosted by Greenon and Shawnee High Schools at Wittenberg University.

PHOTO BY ROBERT MIHALEK Monica Erickson cheered on Eve GunderKline during the preliminaries of the girls 100 freestyle at the Clark County Invitational at Wittenberg last Friday. GunderKline finished ninth in the prelims and 10th in the finals on Sunday.

The teams improved upon their performances the week before, when the boys placed fifth at the Shawnee Invitational at Wittenberg on Friday, Jan. 9. During the meet, the girls failed to score team points, though several swimmers turned in season-best times.

The County Invitational started last Friday with the preliminary competition and finished on Sunday with the finals.

The boys 200 medley relay (Jacob Wishart, Aaron Zagory, Michael Hosket and Will McCuddy) placed third in the finals in 2:05.93, and third in the 400 freestyle relay in 3:59.26.

Jon Bullock, Carey Dixon, Brandon Carver-Halley and Evan Gerthoffer placed sixth in the 200 freestyle relay and seventh in the 400 freestyle relay.

In individual events, Hosket placed third in the 50 free and fifth in the 100 freestyle. McCuddy finished fourth in the 500 freestyle and seventh in the 200 free. Wishart placed fifth in the 500 free, while Zagory was fourth in the 100 free with a time of 56.79 and placed ninth in the 100 breaststroke. Carver-Halley placed 10th and Gerthoffer 12th in the 100 breaststroke.

During the prelims, Dixon posted his season-best times in the 50 freestyle and the 100 freestyle. Bullock also swam well on Friday in the 50 free and the 100 free.

The girls 200 medley relay (Julia Swisher, Eve GunderKline, Monica Erickson and Tina Chen) qualified for the finals during prelims, then held onto 10th place in finals. Michaela McCuddy substituted for Chen in the freestyle leg on Sunday.

Swisher, GunderKline, Erickson and Chen placed seventh in the 400 freestyle relay in 5:00.36, 12 seconds faster than the week before.

In individual action, Erickson placed second in the 100 butterfly in 1:25.12 and fifth in the 200 freestyle in 2:37.35. Swisher finished eighth in the 200 free and 11th in the 100 backstroke. GunderKline had her best times in the 100 free, placing 10th in 1:08.81, and 12th in the 100 breaststroke, in 1:29.95.

Michaela McCuddy and Amanda Bush both swam well on Friday in the 100 free and the 100 back. Olivia Dixon finished the 100 breaststroke in 1:33.59, just in front of Chen, who finished in 1:39.23.

At the Jan. 9 invitational, Wishart, Zagory, McCuddy and Bullock placed second in the 400 free relay and sixth in the 200 medley relay.

In individual competition, Zagory came in fifth in the 100 free and ninth in the 100 breaststroke. McCuddy placed sixth and Wishart was seventh in the 200 freestyle. Wishart then placed fifth and McCuddy sixth in the 500 freestyle. Bullock finished seventh in the 100 backstroke

Swisher, GunderKline, Erickson and Chen finished ninth in the 400 free relay and 10th in the 200 medley relay.

In individual competition, Erickson was 13th and Julia Swisher was 14th in the 200 freestyle. Erickson also placed ninth in the 100 butterfly, and Swisher 16th in the 100 backstroke.

The swim teams are in the home stretch of the season, making good progress and looking forward to next week’s meet, coach Dave Wishart said.

Mills Lawn PTO basketball program

The 2004 Mills Lawn PTO Basketball Program will be held this winter on Saturdays from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Bryan Community Center gym.

Team play begins Jan. 24, and the program runs through March 13.

All third- through sixth-grade boys and girls are invited to play on a team and learn the basics of basketball. Signed parental permission forms are required.

For information, call Lynn Hardman at 767-8433.

Coaches ask alums for support

The Lady Bulldogs basketball team issued a challenge this week to all Yellow Springs alumni to support the girls and boys basketball teams.

Coach Shirley Cummins said, “How many classmates can you find or pull out of the house? The Bulldogs are coached by two of our own, Shirley Austin Cummins (class of 1976) and Brad Newsome (class of 1985). If you would like to watch exciting, exhilarating, fast-paced basketball, turn off the TV and come watch your future alumni go for the MBC titles and further.”

The complete YSHS winter sports schedules are available on the Web at www.ysnews.com/sports/schedule.html. Important upcoming basketball games, some of which may decide the Metro Buckeye Conference, include Saturday, Jan. 24, when the girls play Jefferson, and Tuesday, Jan. 20, when the boys play Xenia Christian and Friday, Feb. 13, versus Jefferson.