Suburban Conference swim meet a tune-up for state
When Blue Springs South finished second at the Missouri state swimming meet last fall, coach Errich Oberlander was quick to credit his team’s depth. He didn’t need to look far for evidence either. The Jaguars’ second-place showing came absent of any individual winners.
That blueprint seems to have stuck around for another year.
The Jaguars won the Suburban Gold Conference meet on Saturday at the Henley Aquatic Center in Independence, compiling 417 points to edge Lee’s Summit North, which finished with 412.
Blue Springs South won only one individual event. Kevin Schlenger was the diving champion. Outside of that, it relied on depth and strong performances in the relays. It won the 200-yard freestyle and 400 free relays.
Lee’s Summit North senior Michael Hynes and junior Josh Littell paced the Broncos’ second-place finish with two wins each. Hynes won the 200 freestyle and 50 freestyle; Littell won the 500 freestyle and 100 butterfly. In his final high school season, Hynes is looking to improve on last year’s state finish, when he took fifth in the 200 and sixth in the 100 free.
Lee’s Summit sophomore Sam Drew was also a two-race winner, capturing gold in the 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke.
SUBURBAN RED
Park Hill won the Suburban Red Conference meet by a narrow margin over its rival, Park Hill South. The Trojans totaled 522 points, nine more than Park Hill South at the Henley Aquatic Center.
To no surprise, junior Marcin Glebocki was at the forefront of the Trojans’ team win. He repeated as the conference champion in the 50-yard freestyle and added a victory in the 100 free. Glebocki was the state runner-up in the 50 free last fall.
Barry Chang also won two events for Park Hill. He brought home conference gold in the 200 individual medley and the 100 backstroke.
Truman’s John Crownover won the Suburban Red Conference diving event.
SUBURBAN WHITE
Staley won six events in the Suburban White Conference meet Saturday at the North Kansas City Natatorium. Raytown took home four victories in the same meet.
Senior Dan Maynard won the 100 backstroke and 100 butterfly for Staley. Maynard was part of the Falcons’ state-champion 200 medley relay team last season.
Raytown’s Braden Best was also a two-event champion with victories in the 100 freestyle and 50 freestyle.
Oak Park’s Tosh Newton was the conference diving champion.
SUBURBAN BLUE
Kearney dominated the Suburban Blue Conference meet. The Bulldogs won 10 events Saturday at the North Kansas City Natatorium.
The swept the three relays (200 medley, 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle), and Austin Wolfe, Eric Baldwin and Spencer Steward each won multiple individual events, as well.
Wolfe won the 200 and 100 freestyle races. Steward captured the 500 freestyle and 200 individual medley. Baldwin won the 100 backstroke and 50 freestyle races.
Platte County’s Justin Richardson won the diving event.
This story was originally published October 29, 2014 at 12:51 PM with the headline "Suburban Conference swim meet a tune-up for state."