Staff report
The Sidney and Marion Local swim teams got together for a meet recently at the Sidney-Shelby County YMCA, and when it was over, the Sidney boys won 81-65, and the two girls teams tied at 74-all.
The Sidney girls team went up against a larger Marion team and had their work cut out for them, with a fewer number of swimmers. But they scored in almost every event to finish in a tie.
Emili Aselage and Emily Wiesenmayer had an impressive meet, taking first and second in both the 50 free and the 100 free. In the 50, Aselage was first, Wiesenmayer second and teammate Sarah Lewis taking third for a clean sweep of the top three spots.
In the 100 free, Aselage was again first and Wiesenmayer second, with Sarah Lewis taking 4th place.
Jenny Barnes took first in the 100 back, with Emily Jones placing third and Sarah Gibson fourth. Jones also placed third in the 500 free.
Noemie Bootz added to the team score with a second in the 100 breaststroke and a third in the 200 free.
Starting the meet with a first-place finish was the 200 medley relay team of Jenny Barnes, Emily Guinther, Sarah Gibson and Emily Jones. The 200 free relay team of Jenny Barnes, Sarah Lewis, Emily Wiesenmayer and Emili Aselage was first, and the same foursome won the 400 relay.
In an exciting finish to tie the meet, the Sidney 400 B relay team of Lanie Shoukri, Olivia Martin, Noemie Bootz and Emily Jones came in third.
“All the girls did their best to score in each event they were entered to pull out the tie,” said Sidney coach Mary Jannides.
The Sidney boys had several good swims to win their meet. Logan Searcy took first in the 200 free with a personal best time and went on to win the 100 breaststroke.
Chase VanTilburgh won the 200 IM and the 100 fly.
Collin McClain won the 100 free and went right into the 500 free and took first again. He then swam the very next event, the 200 free relay, and with teammates Logan Searcy, Elliot Wilson and Chase VanTilburgh, took first in that event.
McClain swam three events in 15 minutes and placed first in all three.
Aaron Jensen helped the team by finishing first in the 100 backstroke and second in the 200 free.
Yu Takayama added points by taking third in the 100 back and fourth in the 200 free.
Elliot Wilson won the 50 free and was second in the 100 free, with personal-best times in both events.
The 200 medley relay team of Yu Takayama, Colin Freistuhler, Andy Lee and Aaron Jensen took second and the same relay team was third in the 200 free relay.
The Yellow Jackets will be back in action on Jan. 2 when they host the Sidney Invitational with teams from Piqua, Troy, Vandalia Butler and Greenville.
Sidney will also host a dual meet with Fairmont on Jan. 3.Warmups begin at 5 p.m. with the meet starting at 6 at the local YMCA.
