Published: December 10, 2007 11:31 pm            

PREP ROUNDUP: Gaugers shine; Kats lose

Cass, Western girls end in a dead heat

The Katfish got good performances from their athletes, but lost to West Lafayette 100-80 in boys swimming Monday night.

“West Lafayette has beaten Kokomo for a number of years, including this meet which came down to the last few events,” Kokomo coach Brian Hindson said. “We scored about the same number of points as last year, and we graduated five seniors. The boys are starting to find themselves. Once we get everyone healthy, and get everyone competing again, we’ll be OK.”

Tylor Gauger was a double winner for Kokomo. Gauger won the 500-yard freestyle and 100 backstroke. Justin Whalen took the 50 freestyle, and Mitchell Gauger was tops in diving.

Western 108, Cass 74

Eric Cashler was a quadruple winner for Western in leading the Panthers over the Kings. Cashler won the 200 freestyle (2:03.50) and 500 freestyle (5:36.43). Cashler teamed with Cody Cross, Evan Rogers and Jake Phillips to claim the 200 freestyle relay event (1:42.11), and Cashler joined Jordan Garibaldi, Mitch Hill and Russell Showers to win the 400 freestyle relay (3:42.98).

Showers completed the meet as a triple winner. He also took firsts in the 50 freestyle (:23.84) and 100 freestyle (:53.39).

“We had some really strong swims in Cashler and Showers,” Western coach Brad Bennett said. “Shower’s times are huge drops from last year. The boys are looking solid.”

The Panthers’ Mitch Hill was a double winner. Individually, Hill won the 100 breast stroke (1:11.27).

Delphi 98, Northwestern 84

Andrew Harrison provided two wins for the Tigers. Harrison won the 200 individual medley (2:21.28) and 100 butterfly (1:02.32).

Northwestern Cindy Britten knew that it was going to be a tough meet with Delphi.

“Delphi has really improved,” Britten said. “We struggled against them last year. (This year), we swam really hard, and we did a good job. Our kids gave 110 percent, and that is all I ask for.”

GIRLS SWIMMING

West Lafayette 115, Kokomo 70

Katie Hingst led the Katfish as a triple winner. Hingst won in the 200 individual medley and the 100 butterfly. Hingst teamed with Jessica Moore, Lexi Laird and Emma Jenkins to win the 200 medley relay.

Kokomo’s only other winner was Brittany Gauger in diving.

“In many regards we are better then West Lafayette, but their coach puts the perfect line up to beat us,” Kokomo coach Brian Hindson said. “The girls are improving, and Hingst swam a couple of off events. We had a lot of kids that dropped times.”

Western 93, Cass 93

Despite winning eight events, the Panthers depth didn’t hold as Western and Cass tied.

“I knew Cass had some depth, and I told the girls that sixth place (finishes) would be the difference in the meet,” Western coach Brad Bennett said. “We won an event, and Cass would take second, third and fourth.”

Kait Flederbach and Rae Andrews led Western as a quadruple winners. Flederbach won the 50 freestyle (:24.97), and she broke the school record in the 100 backstroke (1:01.58). Andrews was tops in the 200 individual medley (2:17.47) and 100 breast stroke (1:11.24). Flederbach and Andrews teamed with Callie Swigart and Chelsea Weber to claim the 200 medley relay (1:59.83), and Andrews, Flederbach and Swigart were joined by Morgan Oilar to win the 200 freestyle (1:46.43).

Weber also won the 500 freestyle (6:01.75) to become a triple winner. Kelsey Durr closed out Western’s winners by finishing first in diving (203.25).

“Our top swimmers are strong, but we have no one in the middle to hang with them,” Bennett added.

Northwestern 124, Delphi 62

Emily Thompson and Ally Goodnight were quadruple winners for the Tigers. Thompson came out on top in the 200 freestyle (2:12.55) and 500 freestyle (5:51.86). Goodnight was victorious in the 50 freestyle (:27.64) and 100 freestyle (1:01.56). Goodnight and Thompson were joined by Anna Sloss and Rachel Schoenian to win the 200 freestyle relay (1:54.98) and Goodnight and Thompson joined Shelby Roberts and Jennifer Claudio to win the 400 freestyle (4:16.64).

Roberts, who was a triple winner, took the 200 individual medley (2:31.86) and 100 butterfly (1:08.11).

Other winners for Northwestern were Bailey Muhlenkamp (diving, 152.70 points) and Claire Schoenian (100 backstroke, 1:18.06).

Tigers’ coach Cindy Britten loved what she saw in her girls.

“We have swum pretty well against Delphi,” Britten said. “I wasn’t sure what they had, so I went with our normal lineup. The girls came through and we had some fast times. We went first, second and third in the 200 freestyle, 200 individual medley, diving and 100 backstroke.”

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Tri-Central 54, Clinton Prairie 27

The Trojans jumped out quickly on Clinton Prairie and rolled to victory in their Hoosier Heartland Conference opener Monday night.

“It was good to get that first conference win,” said coach Kathie Layden. “We got after them defensively and played at the tempo we wanted.”

Haley Hewitt and Amber Suiters scored 12 points apiece for the winners. Suiters and Kelly Walter added six boards apiece and Hewitt led her team with nine assists.

“We had good effort offensively and defensively,” Layden said. “We shot almost 50 percent from the field, so our shot selection was good and defensively, we forced 33 turnovers.”

TC improved to 4-3 overall and hosts conference foe Lafayette Central Catholic on Saturday.

Tribune Sports Editor Dave Kitchell and sportswriter Kenny Hetzler compiled this round up.

        

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