By Justin Sokeland
WBIW.com
BEDFORD – Before the official hits the button to trigger the horn and start the clock, signaling the competitors to launch from the starting block, nervousness pulses through each swimmer’s body. If they were connected like an electrical circuit, they would light up the pool.
Once they hit the water, that energy dissipates. Then it’s a simple physics problem. The path of least resistance produces the most power, or the best times, and wins.
Bedford North Lawrence generated plenty of voltage during its home debut with Bloomington North on Thursday night. The Cougars, blessed with superior numbers, swept the meets in the team competition, but the Stars had plenty of individual bulbs creating maximum wattage.
North splashed to a 104-65 win in the boys meet and a 96-80 triumph in the girls meet. Despite that shortage, the Stars had impressive performances, especially among the girls team. BNL won two relays and four individual events on that side.
“That’s the most complete effort I’ve seen from a girls team since we won the sectional a few years back (in 2018),” BNL coach Adam Young said. “We’re pretty pumped, proud as could be. I would be hard pressed, with as complete an effort they put out there, to single anyone out.
“We have people getting lifetime bests this time of year, and we’ve not been taking it easy. Anyone who can’t be excited about the girls doesn’t have a heartbeat. I’m excited and I think the girls are, too. It will be a great year for them.”
BNL started with a win in the 200-yard medley relay, with Avery Brown, Emma Heinzman, Sabrina Lipp and Francesca Orozco combining to clock 2:13.50. The Stars also won the 200 freestyle relay with Lipp (a promising freshman), Mia Manke, Ava Lipp and Cookie King posting 1:53.33.
“It was super impressive for our team, because we all dropped time,” King said. “Those relays were really impressive. Across the board, we were great.”
King also won the 100 butterfly (1:05.30), Sabrina Lipp got home first in the 50 free (27.94), Ava Lipp pulled away to take the 100 backstroke (1:05.73), and Heinzman bobbed her way to victory in the 100 breaststroke (1:22.68).
“I wanted to go as fast as I could,” King said. “I wasn’t feeling the best, but once I do, it will be ‘game over.’”
On the boys side, Garrett Gabhart was a double winner in dominant fashion. He cruised to the wall in 54.95 in the 100 butterfly, then blasted out to a 57.40 finish in the 100 backstroke.
“I’m just trying to go as fast as I can right now,” Gabhart said. “I’m a little nervous before, but once I hit the water, I just go. I’m excited with how I’m doing. I’m on track for the times I want at the end of the season. I feel good about my progress.”
BNL’s Oliver Brown claimed the 100 freestyle in 53.78.
“Garrett did his thing, and Oliver shows up every night,” Young said. He was also encouraged by BNL’s times in the 500 free, 100 free, and the time drops through the entire lineup.
“We have a stretch of meets here where we will mix it up, do off events and learn more about ourselves,” Young said.
BNL will return to action on Tuesday at Martinsville.
