Seymour’s Makenna Greenawalt makes the turn in the 200 yard IM during the HHC championship Saturday at Jennings County.
Greg Jones | For The Tribune
Seymour’s Grace Lewis dives during the HHC championship Saturday at Jennings County.
Greg Jones | For The Tribune
Seymour’s Kylie Grove, left, and Avery Stewart talk as they warm up before the 100 yard butterfly event during the HHC championship Saturday at Jennings County.
Greg Jones | For The Tribune
Seymour’s Avery Stewart competes in the 100 yard butterfly event during the HHC championship Saturday at Jennings County.
Greg Jones | For The Tribune
NORTH VERNON — Heading into Saturday’s Hoosier Hills Conference girls swimming and diving meet, Seymour coach Dave Boggs said he felt like the Owls could place anywhere between second and sixth.
When the final race, the 400 free relay, was completed, the Owls found themselves in third place with 189 points.
Floyd Central used its depth (winning three individual events and two relays) to defend its title with 344.50 points, and Jeffersonville was second with 198.50.
“It was probably better for us than I expected,” Boggs said. “This meet was really wide open from second through sixth. We swam very well here today. All of our times were season bests or right on lifetime bests. We came and did a good job today. I’m very happy with their results.”
Senior Maren McClure led the Owls by placing second in the 100 butterfly in 1:04.16, third in the 100 breaststroke at 1:13.11 and she teamed up with Samantha Jacobi, Olivia Fish and Katya Cox to place second in the 400 free relay in 4:01.94.
McClure also joined Jacobi, Fish and Cox to place third in the 200 free relay in 1:49.74.
Individually, Jacobi was sixth in the 100 in 1:01.21 and sixth in the 50 free in 28.06.
“I like relays better because if I don’t do as well as I think I should, I have my teammates to keep me afloat,” Jacobi said. “I kind of like individual events for the opposite reason of that, that if I do poorly, it’s just for me. My 100 free was probably my best race. It felt right, but I wish it would have been a little faster.”
Jacobi felt like her times weren’t as good as what she wanted yet, but the Owls just started to taper, so she hopes to have that improved by sectional.
“I need to work on my turns,” she said. “It’s always my turns. I need to work on getting off the walls quicker and pulling more.”
Cox finished fourth in the 100 back, while Fish was fifth in the 50 free and Grace Lewis was fifth in diving.
Owls placing sixth were Cox in the 200 free, Kate Connell in diving, and Fish in the 100 back.
The Seymour boys and girls will host Bedford Tuesday night.
The Seymour girls have started their taper in preparation for the Floyd Central Sectional Feb. 3 and 5.
“We had a solid day across the board, from start to finish,” Boggs said. “The girls were great today on the deck and in the water. They all came in as a team today. We talked about raising it up a notch, and they did.
“We’ve split the boys and girls up. They’re nowhere near where they’ll be in three weeks. At this point, they’re all tired. It’s about being rested. A little extra enthusiasm can go a long way.”