WICHITA, Kan.—
The boys swim team from Northwest was hoping to place a least third overall in its home meet, but ended up finishing ninth with a team score of 122.5. There were 16 teams competing at the Northwest Invitational swim meet on Saturday.Sophomore Jake Ayala agreed that Northwest was hoping for a stronger finish.
“We are a solid team this year and even though we lost some strong swimmers last year, we have a good team. We already had a relay team qualify for state, and we are all working hard to improve,” Ayala said.
Senior Hunter Taylor thought that the team as a whole performed well.
“We may not have the best team in the City, but all of the guys on the team really love swimming, and it is a group that I am proud to be a part of,” said Taylor.
Junior Daniel DeBolt echoes the thoughts of his teammates.
“We could have done better, because we have the talent on the team. Many of our swimmers did not get to swim their best event,” DeBolt said.
DeBolt said he did not get to swim his best event which is the breast stroke, but he did swim his personal best on the 200 freestyle at 2:14.50.
Junior Josh Wehmeier believes his team has a lot of potential this year.
“We have a new coach, a lot of good returning swimmers, and we have a good shot at doing well at state,” Wehmeier said. Wehmeier finished seventh out of 53 swimmers in the 100-yard backstroke.
The relay team of Wehmeier, Levi Kendall and Sam McFarland with a varying fourth swimmer has been solid, winning most of the races they have been put into.
The boys feel as though they have the potential to do well this season.
“We are going to hit it hard at practice this week to prepare for our next meet in Manhattan,” Ayala said.
Northwest competes in the Manhattan Invitational on Saturday.
