Ionia Bulldogs hosted the Bulldogs of Mason High School for the Community Awareness "Purple Meet' aka Bulldogs Battling Cancer.  Ionia swimmer, Estin Lyons turned in top points for the swimming bulldogs by taking first place in both the 50 and 100 yard freestyle events dropping 1:37 seconds in the 100 for a personal best time of 1:06.27  Lyons was also a member of the first place 200 yard freestyle relay event  and second place 400 yard freestyl relay.  Freshman, Christian Martinez placed first in the 100 yard breast stroke with a personal best time of 1:28.21 which was a 5.67 second time drop!

Carl Goeckel placed second in the 200 yard freestyle event with a MISCA qualifying time of 1:54.47 and second in the 500 yard freestyle with a time of 5:18.89.  Carl also competed on both the 200 and 400 yard freestyle relay events. Elijah Peterson swam the 200 yard individual medley with a 5th place finish time of 3:07.33 and a personal best time of 1:29.10 in the 100 yard butterfly with a 9.81 second time drop.  Peterson also competed in the 200 yard medley relay and 200 yard freestyle relay.  Nick Richey swam a personal best time in the 200 yard individual medley with a time of 2:51.66.  He also swam the 100 yard backstroke placing third with a time of 1:23.65.  Nick was a member of the first place 200 yard freestyle relay team and second place 400 yard freestyle relay team.  Chris Brown had a 2.37 second time drop in the 100 yard freestyle relay and placed second in the 100 yard breast stroke with a time of 1:39.47.  Chris is a member of the second place 200 yard freestyle relay team and 400 yard freestyle relay team. Gabriel Holman took fifth place in the 50 yard freestyle event.  He also placed fifth in the 100 yard backstroke event with a 6.14 second time drop to a personal best time of 1:38.97.  Gabe was the lead off swimmer in the 200 yard medley relay and competed on the second place 200 yard freestyle relay.  Yadiel Villodas competed in the 50 yard freestyle and the 100 yard freestyle events placing 6th in both events.  He also competed on the 200 yard medley relay and second place 200 yard freestyle relay teams.  Brendin Bushee competed in both the 200 yard and 500 yard freestyle events.  He had a 3.31 second time drop in the 500 free with a personal best time of 7:01.25.  Jordon Masters competed backstroke in the 50 yard freestyle event.

"The swimmers are seeing that their hard work is paying off.  They've had a few tough practices and are seeing their times drop. With this being our purple meet, much heart went in to the events."  Mason High School swimmers and divers also participated in the Community Awareness meet through purchasing the purple t shirts and wearing purple swim caps during the competitions.

The Bulldogs travel to Williamston next Thursday, February 2.  "Although our win/loss record is 0-6, the swimmers are swimming faster, strengthening their team and looking forward to leagues."