By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – Bedford North Lawrence won 11 events while posting a runaway 127-44 victory over Edgewood during the boys high school swimming season opener on Tuesday night.
The Mustangs took advantage of depth (the Stars had only six swimmers and a diver) for a 77-70 win in the girls meet.
BNL’s John Allen, Alexander Swenson and Cole Baker were all members of the three victorious relays, and they each won their individual events. They combined with Garrett Henson to clock 1:47.29 in the 200-yard medley relay, then teamed with Trey Kimbley to claim the 200 freestyle relay (1:35.87) and the 400 free relay (3:33.77).
Individual winners for the Stars included Kimbley (1:58.14 in the 200 free), Isaiah Eicle (2:20.80 in the 200 individual medley), Kade Bailey (164.95 points in diving), Swenson (57.11 in the 100 butterfly), Allen (50.87 in the 100 free), Hayden Puckett (5:36.57 in the 500 free), Baker (1:00.47 in the 100 backstroke) and Henson (1:13.58 in the 100 breaststroke).
“Great swims across the board,” BNL coach Adam Young said. “Trey Kimbley had a great 200 free, John Allen almost broke the :50 barrier in the 100 free, which is great for this early in the season. Isaiah Eicle won the 200 IM with a time close to his sectional performance last year. Cole Baker had a backstroke swim that was around what he was producing late last season heading into the sectional.”
In the girls meet, Emma Gabhart and Shelby Slaughter were double winners. Gabhart won the 200 free (2:02.02) and 100 backstroke (1:02.35) while Slaughter took the 50 free (28.93) and 500 free (6:04.14). They teamed with Bella Held and Cookie King to touch first in the 200 medley relay (2:16.00) and 400 free relay (4:32.03).
Kind also won the 100 butterfly (1:18.28)
“The girls did a great job across the board and almost pulled off a team win,” Young said. “Cookie King had a great first meet. Emma Gabhart was under the weather but still produced a couple of swims that were knocking on the door of school records. Shelby Slaughter won the 500 with a decent time for the first meet.
“Now that we have a meet under our belts and the first swim jitters out of the way, we can turn our attention toward Saturday.”
The Stars will host league rival Floyd Central on Saturday.
