Osawatomie-Paola-Louisburg boys swim team off to good start

By Andy Brown
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Updated: December 20, 2019

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The inaugural boys swim season got underway earlier this month as Louisburg joined the Osawatomie-Paola program this winter and several swimmers are already making an impact.

The Miami County swim team has already competed in two meets and recently finished fifth out of 10 teams at the Topeka-Hayden Invitational on Dec. 10.

Osawatomie-Paola-Louisburg had a pair of relays that led the way. Theo Hebert, Cole Brown, Bridger Baus and Remington Rice took sixth in 1 minute and 58 seconds in the 200-yard medley relay, while Hebert, Isaiah Waggerman, Brown and Justin Bradley were sixth in the 400 freestyle relay in 3:57.

Hebert led the way individually as he took seventh in the 500 freestyle (5:55) and 100 freestyle (1:02). Baus also had a seventh place finish in the 100 backstroke (1:08).

Brayton Brueggen was eighth in the 500 freestyle (6:13), while Bradley took ninth in the 200 freestyle (2:08). Brown had a pair of 10^th place finishes in the 100 breaststroke (1:18) and 200 individual medley (2:29).

On Dec. 7, the swim team opened its season at Lansing at an all relay meet. They finished sixth overall with 89 points and had a good showing in their first time out according to coach Gerri Hart.

“The boys did well in their first meet,” Hart said. “We had a lot of improvement from the times trial we had on the fifth day of practice. This is a great meet because it is all relays so it builds team spirit. The boys showed great sportsmanship by being one of the only teams to stay in the water till all the swimmers in the event were done and cheering on their opponents. I am really proud of these boys.”

Osawatomie-Paola-Louisburg had a runner-up finish in the 200-yard backstroke relay. Theo Hebert, Remington Rice, Bridger Baus and Brayton Brueggen were second in 2:00.61 to lead the way.

They also had a pair of fourth place finishes. Justin Bradley, Hebert, Rice and Isaiah Waggerman swam a 5:04 in the 500 freestyle to take fourth, while Hebert, Brueggen, Baus and Cole Brown were fourth in the 200 butterfly in 1:59.

Bradley, Rice, Baus and Waggerman were fifth in the 200 freestyle (1:43), while Justin Bradley, Sam Bradley, Brueggen and Brown took sixth in the 200 breaststroke (2:32).

Louisburg students that are on the team this season are Wyatt Axmann, Bridger Baus, Drake Baus, Sam Bradley, Braden Branine, Cole Brown, Brayton Brueggen, Drake Burdine, Cooper Hipp and Remington Rice.

The swim team will be back in action on Jan. 22 for their home opener. The team was originally scheduled to have its home opener on Dec. 16, but it was postponed and then eventually cancelled due to weather.