Miami County girls swim takes second at Blue Valley Northwest

OVERLAND PARK — The Osawatomie-Paola-Louisburg-Spring Hill girls swim team faced off against a bigger school in Blue Valley Northwest on April 15 and it more than held its own. 

In a triangular with Wyandotte, the Miami County team finished second in the meet at Blue Valley Northwest High School and recorded 38 new personal best times in the process against a pair of Class 6A programs.

“Overall, we had our best outing at Blue Valley Northwest in team history,” coach Mary Argeropoulos said. “There were a few learning moments with relay exchanges that we will focus on coming up, but the athletes are getting stronger and more confident.”

That includes swimmers on the Louisburg side and it started with Sabra Brueggen. The Wildcat senior qualified for state in two more events.

Brueggen won the 100 backstroke in a state qualifying time of 1:02.73. She also finished second in the 200 individual medley in a state time of 2:18.91, as she was edged by Northwest’s Maggie Dahl in 2:18.66.

“Louisburg is continuing to perform well as a team and we are pushing each athlete to make those improvements that will benefit their individual swims as well as their prospective relay legs,” Argeropoulos said. “Sabra continues to push herself towards faster times as she knocks down those qualification times with ease.”

Sophomore Ella Bockelman took home top honors in the 500 freestyle as she won in 7:18. Senior Janie Harth was runner-up in the 50 freestyle in 28.42 and was sixth in the 100 backstroke.

Senior Cadence Weichert took fourth in the 100 breaststroke and fifth in the 100 butterfly, while sophomore Talen McMurray was sixth in the 100 breaststroke.

Brueggen, Weichert, Harth and Spring Hill’s Camden Strickland also teamed up to take second in the 200 freestyle relay in 1:53.34.

The Miami County team is back in the water on April 22 when it travels to the Turner Invitational at Turner High School. Events begin at 4 p.m.