Ionia Swimmers competed their final home meet against Lansing Waverly and posted several personal best times once again!  "We knew the opposing team had considerable less swimmers, yet it was important to keep their focus on swimming personal best...which they did!"

Top point earner, Carl Goeckel placed first in both of his individual events posting personal best times in the 50 yard freestyle with a time of 23.62 and the 100 yard freestyle 51.41.  Carl was also on the first place finishing 200 yard freestyle relay team of Nick Richey, Christian Martinez, Estin Lyons and Goeckel and the 400 yard freestyle relay team of Goeckel, Christ Brown, NIck Richey and Estin Lyons.  Nick Richey also scored top points with two first place finishes and personal best times in the 200 yard Individual Medley dropping 4.76 seconds to a time of 2:46.90 and in the 100 yard butterfly dropped 6.20 seconds to a finish time of 1:35.26.

Brendin Bushee swam to two personal best times in the 200 yard freestyle dropping 5.35 seconds to a time of 2:27.32 and in the 500 yard freestyle to a time of 6:42.47.  Christian Martinez swam to a personal best time in the 200 yard freestyle dropping 5.90 seconds to a time of 2:32.47.  He placed first in the 100 yard breaststroke.  Chris Brown also had two personal times this evening.  He dropped 10.82 seconds in the 500 yard freestyle swimming to a time of 7:03.24 and 3.56b seconds in the 100 yard breaststroke to a time of 1:32.02.  Elijah Peterson placed first in the 100 yard backstroke event with a personal best time of 1:23.47 which was a 16.99 second drop; he also dropped .71 seconds in the 100 yard free event with a time of 1:13.36. Elijah was a member of the second place Medley Relay team of Jaxxon Thelen, Chris Brown, Peterson and Yadiel Villodas.  The 200 yard freestyle relay team of Holman, Bushee, Villodas and Thelen placed second to Ionia.  Gabe Holman dropped time in the 200 yard freestyle event with a time of 3:06.09 and the 100 yard backstroke with a time of 1:37.20.  Jaxxon Thelen returned to dual meets this season with a personal best time of 37.60 in the 50 yard free.  The 400 yard freestyle Relay  team of Bushee, Peterson, Martinez and Villodas swam to a third place finish.

"All of our swimmers placed and earned points for the win.  We had really good races with a few pretty close finishes.  The team is setting their sights on the league meet which is February 24 in Haslett."

Ionia's win improved their league standing to 1 and 6.  Carl Goeckel will compete at the MISCA meet at Jenison High  School on Saturday February 11.  The team will travel to Grand Rapids Union on Thursday February 16 to complete their dual season before the season ending league meet.