MANSFIELD — The format was less conventional than traditional swimming meets and the atmosphere was more relaxed, but judging by the roar of the Ontario contingent after the final team scores were announced, winning the eight-team Tyger Co-Ed Relay Invitational was still a big deal.
The Warriors piled up 378 points to outdistance runner-up Madison (352). Orrville (296) was third, followed by Shelby (256), Norwalk (192), St. Peter’s (114), Mansfield Senior (78) and Crestview (30).
Ontario held a 12-point lead heading into the day’s final event — the mixed 200 yard underwater relay. Each of the four swimmers, two girls and two boys, had to swim a length of the 25 yard pool underwater before hitting the wall and swimming the final 25 yards in freestyle.
“The underwater relay is everybody’s first choice,” Ontario coach Deb Henry said. “All my seniors want to compete in that event.”
The Ontario foursome of Sami Sheppard, Tyler Watson, Casi Sheppard and Chad Wright won the event in 1 minute, 58.57 seconds. The Mansfield Senior quartet of Liz Wolfe, David Haring, Drew Weeks and Grace Haring were second in 1:59.36.
Ontario won four of the meet’s eight events. The team of Alley Rehfeldt, Andrew Jolley, Becca Gregg and Wright took first in the 400 backstroke relay in 4:35.46. Arianna Fisher, Kyle Cordrey, Sami Sheppard and Daniel Hufford won the 400 butterfly relay in 4:49.25. Casi Sheppard, Wright, Amy Williams and Jolley won the 400 freestyle relay in 3:54.75.
“This is a fun meet for this time of the year,” Henry said. “Mixing the girls and the boys and doing 100s of everything, it’s something the kids look forward to.”
Madison’s Makayla Eaton, Nick Arnold, Judith Arehart and Colby Titus won the breaststroke relay in 5:18.40.
The Crestview team of Brinna Bean and Phoenix Fletcher won the one meter diving competition.
“I was very pleased with the way our kids performed,” Madison coach Matt Wade said. “We didn’t have a very good practice Friday. The difference between Friday and today as like night and day.
“Our kids really enjoy this format. It’s something different.”
Staying Healthy: The Warriors have been ravaged by illness in the early part of the season, but have still excelled in some elite events.
“We’ve just got to stay healthy,” Henry said. “The boys did very well at the Viking meet. A lot of kids are at their taper times from last year already, so that’s nice.”
Ahead of Schedule: Like Henry, Wade has been pleased with his team’s performance. The postseason is still six weeks away, but Wade already is looking forward to the sectional.
“We are further ahead than I thought we would be at this time,” Wade said. “The kids are getting excited already.”
