OSCODA - Dec. 13, 2008 - The Ogemaw Heights, Oscoda and Standish-Sterling boys swim teams all had reason to be pleased with the results of Saturday's Oscoda Invitational.

The Ogemaw Heights ran up 465 to take home the invitational trophy, outdistancing the host Owls (325) for the top spot. Alpena (183) finished third, followed by the second-year Panthers (121) and Arthur Hill (113).

The Falcons, of course, were quite happy to take home the invitational championship, while Oscoda laid claim to victories in seven of the 12 events. SSC, with 12 swimmers in its second year with a swim program, was thrilled to have beaten another opponent.

Ogemaw Heights

The Falcons, who hope to be among the Independent Swim Conference frontrunners, won four events but piled up the points with multiple top-six finishes in several races.

Winners included Tanner Walker in the 200-free (2:12.97) and 100-fly (1:02.97), Sean McClintic in the 100-free (1:03.98) and the 200-free relay team of Glenn Watchorn, Kelby Marvin, Nick Elliott and McClintic (1:50.73).

"I was real proud of our effort," said Falcon coach Louise Hofer. ""We have a lot of new swimmers. A lot of learning going on. But they've been doing a great job of teaching and supporting one another, and our returners have shown some awesome leadership skills."

The Falcons' depth was the difference. After Walker, the Falcons had George Farmer, Kelby Marvin and Tommy Howard sweep the top four spots in the 200-free; elliott, Watchorn and Clayton Clemens took second, third and fourth in the individual medley; Clemens and Earl Bennett finished second and fourth in the 100-back; and Elliott, Watchorn and McClintic took second, fourth and fifth in the 100-breast. In the two relays the Falcons didn't win -- the 200-medley and 400-free -- the Falcons took three of the top five spots.

The Falcons next compete at the Midland Dow Relays on Dec. 16.

Oscoda

Though lacking in numbers, the Owls proved again they have quality at the top of their lineup.

Winning events were Ray Gaskell, Bryce Haglund, Coty Nolff and Kyle Ostrander in the 200-medley relay (1:55.67); Haglund in the 200-IM (2:31.30) and 100-breast (1:11.01); Gaskell in diving (190.90 points) and the 100-back (1:05.48); Nolff in the 500-free (6:22.86); and Ostrander, Haglund, Nolff and Gaskell in the 400-free relay.

"Winning seven out of 12 events, I feel pretty good about," said Oscoda coach Jeff Rush. "The depth isn't there yet. But I think the newer swimmers will catch up.

"They're working hard, and hopefully by the time we get to the conference finals they'll be ready to pick up some points for us."

The Owls were also strong in the 100-fly, where Nolff took second and Ostrander third, while Ostrander also took second in the 50-free.

The Owls travel to Essexville Garber on Tuesday, Dec. 16.

Standish-Sterling

Standish-Sterling coach Noreen Izzo said Saturday's results were a great confidence booster for her program, considering many of her swimmers felt going in that they would probably finish last in their events.

None of the Panthers finished last in any event, and despite being without four of their fledgling squad and not being able to fill out all the events, still finished ahead of Arthur Hill.

"The guys did great," Izzo said. "They came in and did what they were supposed to do. They've just been practicing a couple of weeks, but they proved they could get out there and do this."

Matt Peters had the Panthers' best day as far as finishing position, taking second in the 100-free (1:05.88) and third in the 50-free (27.23). Other top SSC finishers were Kegan Luce in the 200-free (5th, 3:00.37) and 500-free (5th, 8:11.53); the 200-free relay team of Eric Hribek, Peters, Evan Skarbeck and Anthony Bloxom (3rd, 2:08.62); Skarbeck in the 100-back (5th, 1:52.40); and David Lundgren in the 100-breast (4th, 1:25.84) and 50-free (6th, 30.08).

SSC travels to its first dual meet of the season on Wednesday, Dec. 17 at Caro.

Ogemaw Top 6:

200 Medley Relay - 2. George Farmer, Glenn Watchorn, Tanner Walker, Nick Elliott 2:01.02; 5. Trevor Killinger, Max Phillipon, Earl Bennett, Danny Ferrell 2:29.89.

200 Free - 1. Tanner Walker 2:12.97; 2. George Farmer 2:30.94; 3. Kelby Marvin 2:33.31; 4. Tommy Howard 2:58.79.

200-IM -  2. Nick Elliott 2:35.67; 3. Glenn Watchorn 2:35.96; 4. Clayton Clemens 2:51.08.

50-Free - 4. Danny Ferrell 28.14.

Diving - 2. Earl Bennett 137.60; 3. Kevin Clark 108.90.

100-Butterfly - 1. Tanner Walker 1:02.97; 5. Kelby Marvin 1:20.12.

100-Free - 1. Sean McClintic 1:03.98; 3. Patrick Eagan 1:09.97; 6. Tommy Howard 1:19.62.

500-Free - 2. Kevin Clark 7:02.57; 4. Danny Ferrell 7:27.95.

200-Free Relay - 1. Glenn Watchorn, Kelby Marvin, Sean McClintic, Nick Elliott 1:50.73; 6. Dillon King, Max Phillipon, Trevor Killinger, Tommy Howard 2:31.65.

100-Back - 2. Clayton Clemens 1:19.60; 4. Earl Bennett 1:29.33.

100-Breast - 2. Nick Elliott 1:17.16; 3. Glenn Watchorn 1:17.44; 5. Sean McClintic 1:26.30.

400-Free Relay - 2. George Farmer, Clayton Clemens, Danny Ferrell, Tanner Walker 4:10.07; 3. Earl Bennett, Kevin Clark, Kelby Marvin, Patrick Eagan 4:44.47; 5. Trevor Killinger, Stephen Hyer, Ivan Cerino, Tommy Howard 6:12.75.

 

Oscoda Top 6:

200 Medley Relay - 1. Ray Gaskell, Bryce Haglund, Coty Nolff, Kyle Ostrander 1:55.67.

200 Free - 6. Sean Hall 3:24.48.

200-IM - 1. Bryce Haglund 2:31.30; 6. Thomas York 2:55.86.

50-Free - 2. Kyle Ostrander 26.82.

Diving - 1. Ray Gaskell 190.90

100-Butterfly - 2. Coty Nolff 1:04.45; 3. Kyle Ostrander 1:10.58.

500-Free - 1. Coty Nolff 6:22.86; 6. Sean Hall 9:08.76.

200-Free Relay - 1. Glenn Watchorn, Kelby Marvin, Sean McClintic, Nick Elliott 1:50.73; 6. Dillon King, Max Phillipon, Trevor Killinger, Tommy Howard 2:31.65.

100-Back - 1. Ray Gaskell 1:05.48; 6. Chris Vandruska 1:56.56.

100-Breast - 1. Bryce Haglund 1:11.01; 6. Ken Parent 1:28.21.

400-Free Relay - 1. Kyle Ostrander, Bryce Haglund, Coty Nolff, Ray Gaskell 3:58.71; 4. Sean Hall, Ken Parent, Michael York, Buddy Jackson 5:31.25.

 

Standish-Sterling Top 6

200 Medley Relay - 6. Evan Skarbeck, Anthony Bloxom, Matt Peters, David Lundgren 2:31.41

200 Free - 5. Kegan Luce 3:00.37

50-Free - 3. Matt Peters 27.23; 6. David Lundgren 30.08

100-Free - 2. Matt Peters 1:05.88

500-Free - 5. Kegan Luce 8:11.53

200-Free Relay - 3. Eric Hribek, Matt Peters, Evan Skarbeck, Anthony Bloxom 2:08.62

100-Breast - 4. David Lundgren 1:25.84