Grinnell – BGM Boys’ Swim Team has best finish in school history at state meet

​     Members of the Grinnell – BGM Boys’ 200 and 400 Free Relay Teams finished the state meet with excellent times. The teams consists of the same swimmers. The 200 Free Relay Team recorded the second-fastest time in school history (1:30.53) in the event and moved up one spot to finish 20th place at state. The 400 Free Relay Team closed the meet with the most memorable performance by a Tiger relay in quite some time. Each of the relay members was able to drop time and Alex Smith anchored the race with a 49.75. That finishing leg kept the Tiger’s lead in the heat and gave them a heat win at the state meet (3:21.40). Pictured are, from left: Pictured are, from left: Blake Wilson, Justin Durr, Alex Smith and Brody Petig.

By Travis Smith
 
​  The Grinnell-BGM Boys’ Swim Team capped off the year with their best performances at the IHSSA State Meet on Saturday, Feb. 12 at the University of Iowa. All three relays headed into the meet in 21st position (24 qualify in each relay).
    The Medley Relay team of Kayden Heishman, Justin Durr, Blake Wilson and Alex Smith re-set the school record again this week dropping a tenth of a second to go 1:42.34. That time was good enough for 19th place!
    The 200 Free Relay team of Blake Wilson, Brody Petig, Justin Durr and Alex Smith recorded the second-fastest time in school history (1:30.53) in the event and moved up one spot to finish 20th!
      The 400 Free Relay team of Brody Petig, Blake Wilson, Justin Durr and Alex Smith closed the meet with the most memorable performance by a Tiger relay in quite some time. The team was positioned in lane two and, by seed, expected to take 5th in the heat. However, the Tigers had other plans.
     “We always talk about showing up to race and competing to win,” noted Tiger Head Coach Travis Smith. “Each of the relay members was able to drop time and Alex Smith anchored the race with a 49.75. That finishing leg kept the Tiger’s lead in the heat and gave them a heat win at the state meet (3:21.40).”
     “It was an incredibly exciting race,” added Coach Smith. “Alex came in just .01 ahead of Cedar Rapids Jefferson’s relay.” The relay time ended up being better than Indianola’s team from heat two and Pleasant Valley’s team was Dq’d giving the Tigers a 15th place finish.
     The top 16 teams score points at the state meet, which was a goal the Tigers set at the beginning of the season.
​     “We pretty much met all of our team goals this year,” said Coach Smith. “That has not ever happened for us. It was a fantastic way to end our season.”

​      Members of the Grinnell – BGM Boys’ Swim Team are ready for the state swim meet on Saturday, Feb. 12 at the University of Iowa. Picture are, from left: Head Coach Travis Smith, Alex Smith, Brody Petig, Blake Wilson, Justin Durr, Kayden Heishman and Jordan Huff, assistant swim coach.