Wildcat swimmers rack up state times in home opening win

OSAWATOMIE — The Osawatomie-Paola-Louisburg-Spring Hill boys swim team opened its home schedule in impressive fashion last Wednesday, winning a four-team meet with 387 points. Independence finished second with 281 points.

Louisburg swimmers played a major role in the victory, combining for eight state qualification times or improvements on existing state marks in a strong early-season showing.

Senior Colin Brown, a two-time state champion, led the way with multiple victories. Brown won the 200-yard freestyle and earned a state qualifying time of 1 minute, 52.96 seconds. He also bettered his state qualifying mark in the 100 freestyle on a relay leg and captured first place in the 100 butterfly with a time of 55.30 seconds.

Senior Andrew Jamison, who returns after winning state medals last season, also turned in a standout performance. Jamison won both the 100 backstroke and the 200 individual medley. He qualified for state in the 100 backstroke with a time of 59.60 seconds and won the 200 IM in 2:07.97.

In his first meet competing with the Louisburg team, junior Casey Carpenter-Ross made an immediate impact. Carpenter-Ross won both sprint freestyle events and earned state qualification times in each, taking the 50 freestyle in 21.68 seconds and the 100 freestyle in 47.44 seconds.

Junior Noah Sharp finished second in the 200 individual medley and the 100 backstroke. Sharp earned a state qualifying time in the 200 IM, touching the wall in 2:13.37.

Brown, Jamison, Sharp and Carpenter-Ross also combined for state qualification times in both relay events. The quartet won the 400 freestyle relay in 3:26.82 and followed that with a victory in the 200 medley relay in 1:40.35.

Other Louisburg swimmers also contributed key points. Bennett Mendez placed second in both the 200 freestyle and 100 freestyle, while Brock Delmez finished third in the 200 individual medley and fifth in the 100 butterfly.

Head coach Mary Argeropoulos was pleased with the team’s performance in the home opener.

“We had a strong showing yesterday which is always satisfying to defend your home waters,” Argeropoulos said. “We didn’t have the rash of personal best times this meet but good solid quality swims across the board helped to seal the team victory.”

Argeropoulos noted the continued progress of the returning swimmers and the leadership they are providing.

“The returning Louisburg swimmers have literally built on the way the ended last season—they have come in faster, stronger, and more determined than ever,” she said. “Times are dropping, state positions are being secured, and really they are continuing to build from their peak of last season at state. The younger Louisburg swimmers are pulling up right behind the leaders and benefitting from great team leadership and improving by leaps and bounds as well.”

She also praised the addition of Carpenter-Ross to the lineup.

“Casey is a great asset to our squad and we are thrilled to add him to our team this season,” Argeropoulos said. “He has big high school goals and helps to build the enthusiasm and quality of the Louisburg (and OzPaLouSpri) swim culture.”