Winning Swimmers - In front row are: Matt Minnick, Ollie Kohler, Jacob Kohler, Denver Smith, Cole Smith. In second row is Eli Farley. In third row are Davina MacLeod, Ben Farley, Coach Kysor, Kearsten Pipkins, Sam Hedges. In back row is Richard Hagner.
Gowanda WaveRunners
bring home trophy
On Sunday, Feb. 5, the Gowanda WaveRunners competed in the Orchard Park Snowball Open Swim Meet, winning first place for the teams with 19 or fewer swimmers. All of the events are swum in yards according to age groups. Medals were awarded for first, second and third place. Ribbons were awarded for fourth place through 12 place.
The results were as follows: Jacob Kohler placed first in the 100 individual medley, 50 backstroke and 200 butterfly. Kohler also took second in the 100-yard freestyle in his age group. Kenny Quiter placed second in the 100 individual medley, third in the 50 freestyle, first in the 50 breast, and fourth in the 200 breaststroke. Richard Hagner placed fifth in the 100 backstroke and sixth in the 100 freestyle. Davina MacLeod competed in the 200 individual medley, placed ninth in the 100 breaststroke, and eleventh in the 100 freestyle. Kohler, Hagner, Quiter and MacLeod placed fifth in the 200 medley relay.
Kearsten Pipkins competed in the 50 freestyle, 50 breaststroke, and the 100 freestyle (knocking five seconds off her best time). Matthew Minnick placed sixth in the 100 individual medley, third in the 50 freestyle, fourth in the 50 back, and second in the 50 butterfly. Cole Smith swam the 50 freestyle, 50 backstroke (taking four seconds off his best time), and the 50 breaststroke. Ollie Kohler swam the 50 freestyle, 50 backstroke, 50 butterfly, and placed seventh in the 25 breaststroke. Ben Farley swam the 50 freestyle, 100 backstroke, and the 50 breaststroke. Denver Smith swam the 50 freestyle, 50 backstroke, 25 breaststroke, and placed eighth in the 25 butterfly. Eli Farley swam the 50 freestyle and placed seventh in the 25 backstroke.
O. Kohler, E. Parley, D. Smith and C. Smith placed first in the boys’ 8 and under 100 freestyle relay and second in the boys’ 8 and under 100 medley relay. Monica Sturm competed in the 25 freestyle and the 25 backstroke. Sam Hedges swam for the first time in competition, competing in the 50 freestyle and the 50 backstroke.
The total points earned for the team was 85, which was enough to claim the trophy.
The Gowanda WaveRunners is a co-ed competing swim team that practices at the Gowanda High School Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. Anyone interested in joining or supporting the swim team should contact Mrs. Kysor at the Gowanda High School Pool or at 532-3638.