OSCODA - Dec. 11, 2008 - Ogemaw Heights used its depth Thursday to outdistance Oscoda 103-80 in both teams' season-opening dual meet.

Oscoda won seven of the 12 events, including all four in which Kyle Ostrander participated, but the Falcons more than offset that with eight second-place finishes and seven thirds.

"This was our first meet of the season and I thought the boys did quite well," said Ogemaw coach Louise Hofer. "We have a lot of returning swimmers who add depth to the team, many of whom put in best times compared to where they finished the season last year.

"We also have a good number of new swimmers to the sport who did a remarkable job and are going to enjoy watching their times drop as the season progresses."

Winning events for the Falcons were Tanner Walker in the 200 individual medley (2:28.58); Glenn Watchorn in the 50-free (26.77); Nick Elliott in the 100-free (58.19); Watchorn, Clayton Clemens, Kevin Clark and Dan Ferrell in the 200-free relay (2:02.96); and Patrick Eagan in the 100-back (1:21.31).

Other top Falcon finishers were George Farmer, Elliott, Walker and Watchorn in the 200-medley relay (2nd, 2:01.86); Clemens in the 200-free (2nd, 2:29.51); Earl Bennett in diving (2nd, 148.10); Dan Ferrell in the 500-free (2nd, 7:35.21); Elliott in the 100-breast (2nd, 1:15.80); and Tanner Walker, Clayton Clemens, George Farmer, Nick Elliott (2nd, 4:07.95).

Oscoda's winners included Ostrander in the 200-free and 100-fly, Ostrander, Bryce Haglund, Coty Nolff and Ray Gaskell in the medley relay; Gaskell in diving (191.55 points); Bryce Haglund in the 100-breast; Nolff in the 500-free; and Nolff, Haglund, Ostrander and Gaskell in the 400-free relay.

"I expected my veteran swimmers to perform well, but we really had some nice drops in time from our newer swimmers," said Oscoda coach Jeff Rush. "Jairo Peralta dropped 10 seconds in the 50-free, Dave Nichols dropped over three seconds and Michael York dropped over a second as well.

"If the new swimmers continue to  improve as they have been we will look pretty good by the time (the) conference (finals) come around."

Other top Oscoda finishers were Gaskell in the 200-IM (2nd); Haglund in the 100-free (2nd); Chris Vandruska in the 100-back (3rd); and Thomas York, Ken Parent, Michael York and Sean Hall in the 200-free relay (3rd).

The two teams will meet again Saturday, Dec. 13, along with Standish-Sterling, Arthur Hill and Alpena, at the Oscoda Invitational.

Ogemaw Top 3 Times

200 Medley Relay - 2. George Farmer, Nick Elliott, Tanner Walker, Glenn Watchorn 2:01.86; 3. Patrick Eagan, Sean McClintic, Kevin Clark, Kevin Killinger 2:23.29.

200 Free - 2. Clayton Clemons 2:29.51; 3. Dan Ferrell 2:39.69.

200 IM - 1. Tanner Walker 2:28.58; 3. Sean McClintic 2:52.11.

50 Free - 1. Glenn Watchorn 26.77; 2. George Farmer 29.62; 3. Earl Bennett 30.39.

Diving - 2. Earl Bennett 148.10; 3. Kevin Clark 115.80.

100 Butterfly - 2. Tanner Walker 1:04.64

100 Free - 1. Nick Elliott 58.19; 3. Clayton Clemens 1:05.89

500 Free - 2. Dan Ferrell 7:35.21

200 Free Relay - 1. Glenn Watchorn, Clayton Clemens, Kevin Clark, Dan Ferrell 30.99; 2. Sean McClintic, Earl Bennett, Tommy Howard, Kelby Marvin 2:02.96

100 Back - 1. Patrick Eagan 1:21.31; 2. Max Phillipon 1:47.10.

100 Breast - 2. Nick Elliott 1:15.80; 3. Glenn Watchorn 1:16.87

400 Free Relay - 2. Tanner Walker, Clayton Clemens, George Farmer, Nick Elliott 4:07.95. 3. Dan Ferrell, Tommy Howard, Patrick Eagan, Kelby Marvin 5:29.64.

Oscoda top 3 finishers

200 Medley Relay - 1. Ray Gaskell, Bryce Haglund, Coty Nolff, Kyle Ostrander

200 Free - 1. Kyle Ostrander

200 IM - 2. Ray Gaskell

Diving - 1. Ray Gaskell

100 Butterfly - 1. Kyle Ostrander, 3. Coty Nolff

100 Free - 2. Bryce Haglund

500 Free - 1.  Coty Nolff

200 Free Relay - 3. Thomas York, Ken Parent, Michael York, Sean Hall

100 Back - 3. Chris Vandruska

100 Breast - 1. Bryce Haglund

400 Free Relay - 1. Coty Nolff, Bryce Haglund, Kyle Ostrander, Ray Gaskell