×
×
homepage logo

Tidal Waves defeat Leavenworth in first meet of 2014

By Justin Nutter - | Jun 9, 2014

Justin Nutter

Emma Morgan was one of 20 Tongie Tidal Wave swimmers to win at least one individual event Friday against the Leavenworth Riptides. Tongie won the meet, 253-231.

Armed with their largest roster in program history, the Tongie Tidal Waves swim team opened the 2014 season Friday in victorious fashion.

The Tidal Waves kicked off the program’s sixth season with a 253-231 win against the Leavenworth Riptides at Tonganoxie Water Park. More than 200 swimmers took to the water for the season-opening meet, in which Tongie defeated its neighbors to the north for the first time in six meetings.

With a record-breaking roster of 125 swimmers — an increase of 18 from last season — the Tidal Waves took advantage of their strength in numbers, particularly in younger age divisions. Coach Janet Falk said the Riptides only fielded 80 swimmers this year and didn’t have any competitors at ages 6 and under, while the Tidal Waves had 14 in that group.

“I’m able to fill relays where they’re not, so that makes a huge difference there,” Falk said.

The program has nearly quadrupled in size since beginning with 35 swimmers in 2009. This year’s team is predominantly comprised of Tonganoxie swimmers, but also includes members from Basehor, McLouth and Eudora. Eudora has a team with Bonner Springs this season, but Falk said that program isn’t open to 5- and 6-year-olds. In total, Falk said about a third of the 2014 team is new to the sport.

The Tidal Waves were particularly strong in relay competition Friday, winning nine event titles. Additionally, 20 swimmers won at least one individual title, while four won multiple events. Lee Roi Johnson and Lee Maughmer led the way with three titles each. Johnson won the freestyle, butterfly and breaststroke in the boys 14-and-under division, while Maughmer won the freestyle, backstroke and individual medley in the boys 18-and-under division.

Just like in past years, Falk said judges were lenient on younger swimmers as they continue to learn proper mechanics, but will begin to identify issues as the season progresses.

“When they’re doing more difficult strokes, it takes a lot of upper body and timing,” she said. “That form isn’t quite there, but as the season goes, they really start to perfect the technique.”

The Tidal Waves will return to competition at 8 a.m. Friday when they welcome Piper to town.

Tongie Tidal Waves 253, Leavenworth Riptides 231

6 and under results

Gavin Rhodes — First in freestyle, first in backstroke

Henry Welsh — Second in freestyle, second in backstroke

Joshua Duvall — Third in freestyle

Baylee Ingleheart — First in freestyle, first in backstroke

Olivia Erwin — Second in freestyle

Maddie Pruitt — Second in backstroke

Amanda Kite — Third in freestyle

Ellie Jackson, Ashlyn Johnson, Baylee Ingleheart, Lauren Dunn — First in freestyle relay

Joshua Duvall, Ava Barker, Annebelle Welsh, Amanda Kite — Second in freestyle relay

8 and under results

Luke Kesinger — First in freestyle, third in breaststroke

Gavin Shupe — First in breaststroke, second in freestyle, second in butterfly, third in backstroke

Garrett Edwards — First in butterfly, second in breaststroke, third in freestyle

Josiah Weatherford — First in backstroke

Ellie Jackson — First in freestyle, first in butterfly

Isabella Parker — First in individual medley, second in freestyle, second in butterfly

Lilly Pruitt — Second in breaststroke, third in freestyle

Mallory Dick — First in backstroke

Taylor Ingleheart — Second in backstroke

Laikyn Bennett — First in breaststroke, second in individual medley

Katelyn Dunn — Third in breaststroke

Garrett Edwards, Silas Kirchoff, Luke Kesinger, Gavin Shupe — First in freestyle relay

Gavin Rhodes, Raileigh Grabill, Joseph Duvall, Josiah Weatherford — Second in freestyle relay

Stella Bradley, Charlsie Christner, Lillie Kokoruda, Brittany Stein — Second in freestyle relay

Joseph Duvall, Gavin Shupe, Garrett Edwards, Luke Kesinger — First in medley relay

Ellie Jackson, Alaina Rogers, Brette Hayden, Laikyn Bennett — First in medley relay

Ellie Suber, Lilly Pruitt, Madelyn Smith, Isabella Barker — Second in medley relay

10 and under results

Gage Hayden — First in freestyle, third in butterfly, third in breaststroke, third in individual medley

Brenan Kuzmic — Third in backstroke

Emma Jackson — Second in breaststroke, third in freestyle

Mikayla Rhodes — First in butterfly, third in individual medley

Lulu Meyers-Arenth — Third in butterfly

Corinne Morgan — Third in backstroke

Abby Vick — Third in breaststroke

Andy Scribner, Gage Hayden, Mason Khanthaboury, Cole Bennett — Second in freestyle relay

Maris Vaughn, Grace Himper, Marie Smith, Abby Vick — Second in freestyle relay

Caleb Weatherford, Ben Suber, Dalton Regehr, Cole Bennett — First in medley relay

Emma Morgan, Lulu Meyers-Arenth, Emma Jackson, Brilei Hendrix — First in medley relay

12 and under results

Kyle Chambers — First in freestyle, second in individual medley, third in butterfly

Caden Hellman — Second in freestyle, third in individual medley

Brenden Rogers — Second in backstroke, third in breaststroke

Jack Duvall — Third in backstroke

Theona Vaughn — Third in freestyle

Meron Hayden — Third in butterfly, third in individual medley

Emma Morgan — First in backstroke

Harlei Hendrix — Third in breaststroke

Jack Duvall, Emmett Keene, Scotty Vick, Kyle Chambers — Second in freestyle relay

Emmie Derzenski, Meron Hayden, Harlei Hendrix, Renna Folsom — Second in freestyle relay

Brenden Rogers, William Weatherford, Scotty Vick, Kyle Chambers — Second in medley relay

Emmie Derzenski, Brynna Ladesic, Meron Hayden, Merkaia Khanthaboury — Second in medley relay

14 and under results

Lee Roi Johnson — First in freestyle, first in butterfly, first in breaststroke

Garrett Eason — Second in freestyle, second in butterfly

Alex Falk — Third in freestyle, third in butterfly

Jon Derzenski — First in backstroke

Phillip Vaughn — Third in backstroke

Holden DeGraff — Third in individual medley

Rilee Garner — First in freestyle, third in butterfly, third in individual medley

Samantha Koch — Second in freestyle, third in backstroke

Isabella Behm — Third in breaststroke, third in freestyle

Aaron Plaschka, Braxton Shupe, Alex Falk, Phillip Vaughn — Second in freestyle relay

Bailey Bradley, Samantha Koch, Clara Altenhofen, Allyson Sparks — Second in freestyle relay

Jon Derzenski, Rylan Hellman, Lee Roi Johnson, Sebastian Boone — First in medley relay

Isabella Behm, Kristi Chambers, Allyson Sparks, Rilee Garner — Second in medley relay

18 and under results

Lee Maughmer — First in freestyle, first in breaststroke, first in individual medley, second in butterfly, second in backstroke

Luke Falk — First in backstroke, second in freestyle, second in breaststroke, third in butterfly, third in individual medley

Alex Falk — Third in backstroke

Andrew Behm — Third in breaststroke

Lee Seittner — First in freestyle, second in butterfly, second in individual medley, third in breaststroke

Lyndon Seittner — Second in freestyle, second in backstroke, third in butterfly, third in individual medley

Meagan Behm — Third in backstroke

Meron Hayden — Second in breaststroke

Mitch Brock, Andrew Behm, Meagan Behm, Lyndon Seittner — First in freestyle relay

Lee Maughmer, Lyndon Seittner, Meagan Behm, Luke Falk — First in medley relay