COLUMBUS — Seymour’s Paul Montgomery, Will Cottrill, Clayton Greenawalt and Pedro Cerino Rico will remember the 2022 Hoosier Hills Conference boys swimming and diving meet for a long time.

That foursome teamed up to place first in the 200 free relay and fourth in the 400 free relay and combined to earn ribbons in five individual events. Their performances helped the Owls edge New Albany 173-172 to place fourth in the meet Saturday at Columbus East High School.

Coach Dave Boggs said he was proud of the whole team.

“Any time you’re a conference champion, you’re going to be happy. We swam OK today, swam very tired still, which is fine. We’re three weeks out (from sectional),” Boggs said. “We’re early in the taper. East swam well today. They were jacked up for that in their pool, but everyone else kind of swam a little tired. I’m happy with what we did.”

The team champion wasn’t decided until the 400 free relay was completed. Floyd Central edged East for the title 248-245, and Bedford North Lawrence was third with 236 points.

Montgomery swam leadoff in the 200 free relay.

“We were going for the win, but we were all a little bit tired, so we’re hoping to shape up by sectional,” Montgomery said. “I was pleased with my splits (in the relays). I got a 52.07 (in the 400), and on the 200 free relay, I got a 23.55, which really wasn’t my best, but I was a little bit tired by then, and I’m going to get it fixed. We need to be working hard during practices and giving it our all every time. The taper is going pretty good.”

Montgomery, Greenawalt and Cerino Rico were on a relay team that qualified for state last year. Greenawalt and Cottrill are seniors, Montgomery is a junior and Cerino Rico is a sophomore.

This is the first time Cottrill has been a conference champion.

“My goal was to hold my spot and contribute as much as I can to the team,” he said. “I PR’d by another half-second, so I’d say that’s a pretty good day.”

Greenawalt said, “I was off the board pretty fast. That’s about what I was looking for, just smooth and quick on the switch-off between me and Will. My turn was OK. The wall is a little bit different for each meet. Here, tiles are a little bit different, so it throws off your depth perception. Overall, it was a good split and I’m happy with it. We’re in the long haul for the sectional.”

Cerino Rico said, “I got a really nice start, perfect concentration when I was leaving. I swam really well. I got a full body ahead of (Floyd Central’s anchor).”

Floyd Central was second in the 200 free relay at 1:34.58.

Cerino Rico said being a HHC and a sectional champion are both really exciting.

“It’s winningMy races for the team were really good,” he said.

The Owls swam 3:31.02 in the 400 free relay.

Cerino Rico was second in the 100 fly (56.64) and third in the 200 individual medley (2:07.63), Montgomery was third in the 50 free (23.30), and fifth in the 100 free (51.51), Greenawalt was third in the 100 breast (1:07.49) and sixth in the 100 fly (59.94) and Cottrill was sixth in the 50 free (24.33) and ninth in the 100 free.

Kaleb Brown finished fifth in diving for the Owls with a score of 245.10.

“We just need to rest and fine-tune for three weeks and be ready for sectional finals (at Floyd Central Feb. 19),” Boggs said.

The Seymour girls will compete in the Floyd Central Sectional Thursday night and Saturday. Diving will be Saturday at 9 a.m.

The boys will host Henryville and Providence on Feb. 7.