Some of the divisional qualifiers for the Wellington swim team.

Sumner Newscow report — Wellington Swim Club ended up with 19 swimmers, who qualified with Divisional times – one of the largest representations for the club. Most will be swimming at the USA Swimming Division II qualifying meet at the Wichita Swim Club this Friday and Saturday.

Those qualifying included: Marisa Black, Chance Hamel, Mackinze Tracy, Macy Gonzalez, Emberly Gonzalez, Derick Kotchavar, Nash Oswald, Colin Green, Dakota Lynnes, Jensen Lynnes, Ralphie Cornejo, Michael Davis, Aurora Young, Laney Dillon, Emma Dillon, Tanner Dillon, Quinn McCue, Kailey Klein and Jordan Thompson.

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by Bliss Baird, Sumner Newscow correspondent — Just when Tuesday night dual meets start to feel routine, around rolls a meet that is truly unlike any other. League Finals – it is part exciting, part boring, part victory, part disappointment, and all sweltering. This weekend, all eight members of the Great Plains Swim League convened in El Dorado to crown the next league champion (spoiler alert: it wasn’t us!). On Friday, the 13-and-overs duked it out under the blistering afternoon sun. The next morning, the 12-and-unders began arriving well before 7:30 a.m. to claim a campsite. With 250 swimmers on Friday night and 400 on Saturday, competition was fierce – and long. Both days wrapped up later than five o’clock.

When it was all said and done (finally!), a massive Haysville team claimed the League title while Winfield was runner-up. Wellington placed seventh out of the eight teams, edging out the host team by nine points.

With a differential that tiny, every point was essential. Those who earned points are listed below and will receive a medal for their success. Furthermore, several Wellington swimmers made such large contributions to the team that they received meet-wide recognition. Nash Oswald secured 23 points for the Sailfish by claiming a first place with a thrilling upset in the 50 breast and two second places on the 50 free and 50 back. That remarkable total made him the third highest point winner in his age group. Marisa Black placed second on the longest race, fourth on the shortest race, and sixth in an entirely different stroke. Her versatility not only was a major asset to Wellington but also allowed her to become the eighth highest point winner in the 15 and over girls division. Both received medals for their accomplishment.

Best times are always a reward in themselves, but League Finals provides an extra incentive. Swimmers can get a “Best Time” decal ironed onto a shirt of their choice for each new personal record they achieve. The coaches could only award one ticket per personal best, but some cuts deserved many more. In the 100 free, Alara Wilson and Megan Davis cut about 18 seconds, Silas Wylie dropped 13, and Aurora Young improved by 10. Jewels Farley cut 13 seconds on her 100 breaststroke!

Trent Haines slashed the same number from the 50 free, and Rome Hunt dropped 10 seconds off of his 50 back. When it comes to time cuts, however, the Wise sisters were the undisputed champions. Twelve-year-old Shi and eleven-year-old Kadance dropped almost the same amount of time on the same race: about 26 seconds on the 100 free! Kadance also cut almost 16 seconds in the 50 back and 8 seconds in the 50 free, the greatest sum among all Wellington swimmers at the meet.

As for postseason cuts, Nash Oswald added the 50 breast to his Districts list by dropping six seconds and improved his 50 free seed at Championships by satisfying the long course standard in that race.

At League Finals, only the top eight finishers earn points for the team and a medal for their collection. This year’s league medalists include:

• Marisa Black (Second – 15-18 Girls 400 Free; Fourth – 50 Free; Sixth – 100 Back)
• Travis Cody (Seventh – 9-10 Boys 50 Fly)
• Michael Davis (Fifth – 9-10 Boys 50 Free; Seventh – 100 Free)
• Cat Green (Eighth – 15-18 Girls 400 Free)
• Colin Green (Sixth – 13-14 Boys 100 Free; Sixth – 100 Breast)
• Emberly Gonzalez (Sixth – 13-14 Girls 100 Free; Sixth – 100 Breast; Seventh – 50 Free)
• Macy Gonzalez (Fourth – 11-12 Girls 200 IM; Seventh – 50 Back)
• Chance Hamel (Seventh – 15-18 Boys 200 IM)
• Derick Kotchavar (Fourth – 13-14 Boys 100 Free; Eighth – 50 Free)
• Eliesse McComb (Eighth – 5-8 Girls 50 Free)
• Nash Oswald (First – 9-10 Boys 50 Breast; Second – 50 Free; Second – 50 Back)
• Matt Pryce (Seventh – 13-14 Boys 100 Back)
• Hayden Stow (Fifth – 5-8 Boys 50 Back; Seventh – 50 Free; Seventh – 100 Free)
• Alara Wilson (Fifth – 5-8 Girls 50 Free; Fifth – 50 Back; Sixth – 100 Free)
• Aidan Young (Eighth – 13-14 Boys 100 Free)
• Aurora Young (Sixth – 9-10 Girls 50 Back).

Relay teams that medaled by placing in the top four include:

• Michael Davis, Maddox Wylie, Ralphie Cornejo, and Nash Oswald (Third – 9-10 Boys 200 Free)
• Alec Gonzalez, Maddox Wylie, Nash Oswald, and Michael Davis (Third – 9-10 Boys 200 Medley)
• Colin Green, Matt Pryce, Aidan Young, and Derick Kotchavar (Fourth – 13-14 Boys 200 Free)
• Matt Pryce, Colin Green, Aidan Young, and Derick Kotchavar (Fourth – 13-14 Boys 200 Medley).

Those earning ribbons for placing between ninth and sixteenth in an individual event include: Travis Cody (100 Free); Maizy Cornejo (50 Breast); Ralphie Cornejo (50 Free; 50 Back; 100 Free); Michael Davis (50 Back); Rose Dickinson (50 Free; 100 Breast); Laney Dillon (50 Free; 50 Back; 100 Free); Kage Farley (50 Back); Cat Green (200 Free); Colin Green (50 Free); Alec Gonzalez (50 Back); Macy Gonzalez (50 Free); Chance Hamel (50 Free; 100 Back); Derick Kotchavar (200 Free); Eliesse McComb (100 Free); Alexis Tracy (100 Breast); Mackinze Tracy (50 Free; 100 Back); Jordan Thompson (50 Free; 100 Back; 100 Free); Maddox Wylie (50 Free; 100 Free; 50 Breast); Makenna Wylie (50 Free; 50 Breast); Aidan Young (50 Free); Aurora Young (50 Free; 100 Free).

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