Tigers entering home stretch

In their final tune-up prior to the Class 1 state championship meet, the Nevada High swim team placed ninth at the 21-school Southwest Missouri (district) Swim Championships — held Nov. 1-2 at Foster Natatorium in Springfield.

Nevada’s top individual finishes were netted by junior Ben Hines — placing first in the 100-yard Butterfly, and fifth in the 100-Free. Additionally, the NHS 200-Free relay team finished third.

Nevada High swimmers who advanced from prelims to the finals, were: Hines, first-place 100-Butterfly and third-place 100-Free; Braden Rusell, ninth-place 100-Backstroke and 16th 100-Free; Tyler Armstrong, 10th 100-Breaststroke and 14th 100-Free; Kalen Morris 11th 100-Backstroke and 16th 50-Free; Grant Miller, 17th 100-Free; 200-Free relay team: Hines, Miller, Morris, Russell — third-place; 400-Free relay team: Russell, Gage Rubin, Karter Evans, and Armstrong — 10th.

Nevada swimmers returned to Foster Natatorium the following day, for the SWMO Finals.

In addition to Hines’ first and fifth-place finishes, and the 200-Free relay team’s bronze medal showing — NHS swim results for the finals, were: Russell, 10th-place 100-Backstroke and 17th 100-Free; Armstrong, 11th 100-Breaststroke and 15th 100-Free; Morris 12th 100-Backstroke and 13th 50-Free; Miller, 14th 100-Free; 400-Free relay — 11th.

“Districts ended pretty well this year,” said Nevada head coach, Clay Wheeler. “We finished Top 10, in a 20-plus team field.”

Wheeler continued: “We had a disappointment in prelims, when our 200-Medley relay (team) was disqualified. But, we still had a good day of swimming, qualifying five swimmers, and two relay teams for finals.”

Summed up Wheeler of his team’s outlook: “From here, we begin final preparations for state competition.”

Team results

• Glendale, 551.5; Ozark, 291; Kickapoo, 279; West Plains, 233; Camdenton, 222.5; Joplin, 217; Carthage, 214; Logan-Rogersville, 170; Nevada, 155; Marshfield, 126; Webb City, 113; Lebanon, 104; Springfield Central, 100; Monett, 99; Republic, 77; Parkview, 73; Nixa, 35; Lamar, 20; Thomas Jefferson Independent Day, 16; Hillcrest, 16; Seymour, 2.

UP NEXT

The Class 1 state championship meet, Nov. 14-15, in St. Peters (Mo.).

Wheeler confirmed with the Daily Mail that his squad has yet to make official entries for the marquee event, but have several automatic qualifiers already in tow.

Among Nevada’s automatic state-qualifiers, Hines, the reigning Class 1 gold medalist in the 50 and 100-yard freestyles, will look for repeat-gold in those events.

In addition, Hines has also achieved automatic state-qualifying times in the 100-Butterfly and 100-Backstroke, and has state-consideration times notched in the 200 and 500-yard freestyle events.

Nevada’s 200-Medley and 200-Free relay teams have also clocked automatic state-qualifying times. Other potential NHS state-meet entrants, based on previously clocked state-consideration times, are: Morris in the 50-Free and 100-Backstroke, Russell in the 100-Backstroke; Miller in the 50-Free, and the 400-Free relay team.