Photos courtesy of Angela Rhode
Donte Baker
Though they were unable to match the depth of talent that the Conway Wampus Cats put in the pool for the second time this week, the Bryant Hornets still managed to finish second in a field of 14 teams at the Bryant December Invitational swimming and diving meet at the Bishop Park Aquatic Center on Thursday.
The Hornets accumulated 283 points to edge Little Rock Catholic for second place. Conway amassed 433 points. Magnolia was fourth with 223 points followed by Little Rock Christian (113) and Benton (99).
The meet was the final pre-Christmas event on the schedule. Bryant returns to competition on Jan. 20, 2017 at the Conway Invitational. As it stands, that will be their final regular-season meet with the 7A-6A Regional following on Feb. 9, at Hendrix College and the State championship meet Feb. 25 at Bentonville.
On Thursday, the Hornets were unable to capture first place in any event but garnered second-place finishes in four events, three of them relays.
Tristan Hoerschelmann
In the 200-yard medley relay, Alex Ball, Tristan Hoerschelmann, Michael Higgs and Jacob Eubanks turned in a 1:54.11, just off the pace set by Conway at 1:44.88.
In the 400 freestyle relay, Ball, Jacob Rhode, Hoerschelmann and Mark Calimpong earned second with a 4:09.88. Catholic won the event with a strong effort, a 3:37.61 clocking.
Kyle Henry, Dylan Althen, Eubanks and Higgs teamed up on a 1:40.25 in the 200 freestyle relay. Only Conway’s 1:36.81 was better.
Trevor Ball
Individually, Ball took second in the 100-yard backstroke. His 1:03.21 was bested only by Hot Springs’ Erik Neiman who finished in 58.39. Rhode was eighth in 1:09.41 and Hoerschelmann was 12th in 1:12.97.
Eubanks was third in the 50 free, with a time of 24.58, and he was fourth in the 100 free at 54.89. Ball was 11th (58.10), John Dellorto 14th (1:02.33) and Trevor Ball was 16th (1:05.48).
Caivon Crosby earned third-place points in the one-meter dive, earning a score of 156.40. Calimpong was fifth at 97.65.
Henry came through with a fourth-place finish in the 500 free and a sixth in the 200 individual medley. In the 500, his time was 5:33.95. Jalen Dinstbier was sixth in 6:56.96. In the 200 IM, Henry posted a 2:25.43 with Dinstbier 14th in 2:57.10.
In the 100-yard butterfly, Althen’s 1:13.88 picked up eighth-place points with Hoershelmann right behind him in ninth with a time of 1:14.24.
Zachary Milam’s 1:21.93 earned 11th-place points in the 100-yard breaststroke. Althen was 16th in 1:27.69.
In the 200 free, Dellorto was 12th (2:28.25) and Milam was 16th (2:37.07).
