Red Bank swimmers Grace Condry (bottom) and Asonia Birdsong pace one another in the 13-14 50-meter freestyle heat. Red Bank edged Big Ridge 383-369 in a battle of unbeatens in CASL's White Division.
photo by Dennis Norwood
There were some close dual meets in the Chattanooga Area Swim League on Monday night, but none were any closer than the meet at Red Bank between the host Gators and the Big Ridge Raiders.
Both teams began the day tied for first place in the White division as both had won two meets without a loss.
In a battle for the top spot, it was a nip and tuck battle from the first race. The lead changed hands several times and it ultimately came down to the final two races in the meet and that's where the Gators pulled out the win, scoring 16 unanswered points in the senior girls and senior boys freestyle relay to win in a squeaker, 383-369.
With the win, Red Bank holds the top spot today with a 3-0 mark while Big Ridge is now 2-1. The Gators host Fort Oglethorpe on Thursday while Big Ridge travels to Cumberland, but you won't have to wait long for a Big Ridge-Red Bank rematch as it's set for next Monday at the Colonial Shores pool, the summer home for the Raiders.
Big Ridge had a 69-61 lead after the opening freestyle relays before Red Bank gained the upper hand at 123-111 following the breaststroke battles. The Gators stretched that lead to 220-190 after the individual medleys before the Raiders started their comeback.
Red Bank still had a six-point lead (323-317) going into the freestyle relays before the Raiders rallied to take a 369-359 lead with the final two races remaining. The Gators won by default as Big Ridge didn't have an entry in either relay.
"Outside of those last two relays, we were in it all the way," said Big Ridge coach Martha Carpenter shortly after the final leg had been completed.
"We didn't have a team in either of those last two races and that killed our chance of winning, but I saw a lot of energy from our kids tonight and I'm really pleased with the way we swam.
"They're beginning to get a handle on what they're doing and I'll need them all on board Monday night for our rematch. We had more DQs than I would have liked, so we have some work to do with our stroke technique, but overall, I'm really happy with the way we performed in this meet," Carpenter concluded with a smile.
Red Bank coach Ken Buchanan has similar issues as Carpenter as the Gators have no 9-10 boys. But for a team that didn't win a meet last summer, the turnaround has been fun and exciting for everyone associated with the Red Bank team.
"Let's do it the hard way," Buchanan said shortly after the meet ended.
"We were missing a few key swimmers, so we knew it would be a close meet. We've been going through one of those phases in recent years where we're thin in certain age groups, but our beginning swimmers are growing and we have a good base stared.
"There are times when it's hard for a youngster to understand team dynamics, but they're beginning to realize what being competitive in a race really means. We still don't have as much depth as we'd like, so we have to be ready to give our best effort in every race," he concluded.
BIG RIDGE HIGH-POINT SCORERS:
19 -- Hunter Shaw, Evan Simpson, Sam Powe
18 -- Sierra Haberhern, Robert Alford
17 -- Mae Mae Powe
14 -- Caleb Sievers, Liam Runkle, Aidan Shaw
13 -- Braxton Haberhern
12 -- Elizabeth Allen, Slate Smith
10 -- Abigail Carpenter, Ethan Runkle.
RED BANK HIGH-POINT SCORERS:
19 -- Dallas Woods, Kathrine Schlegel, Luke Massey
16 -- Mason Meyners
14 -- Brianna Rabon, Asonia Birdsong, Robert Steele, Ian Rabon
12 -- Megan Bernard, Rebekah Fuller, Virginia Condry
11 -- Sarah Sapp, Aidan Condry
10 -- Payton Hayman, Jonah King, Austin Camp, Samuel Meagher, Chase Hayman, Eddie Birdsong, Bradley Hunt, Benjamin Meagher.
SIGNAL MOUNTAIN HIGH-POINT SCORERS:
17 -- Maggie Stovall, Chase Post, Charlie Han, Peter Lochmaier
15 -- Jewel Gordon, Kaleb Bonasia
14 -- Stephanie Xian, Sam Laramore, Thomas Porter
12 -- Anthony Xian, Philip Pedigo, Will Tippett, Daniel Snyder
11 -- Eleonore Porter, KaraLin Hoover, Audrey Rackel, Luke Smiley
10 -- Laken Coppinger, Jessica Vargo, Christian Trombley, Parker Milz.
OOLTEWAH HIGH-POINT SCORERS:
18 -- Cameron Martin
17 -- Emma Scruggs, Peter Dyr
16 -- Jaxon Thurman, Leah Boyd, Lilian Parr
15 -- Faith Isbell, Merrin Allen, Jacob Kiemeyer
14 -- Aidan Sims
13 -- Madelyn Weathers, Jillian Cantrell, Haley Grider, Ryan Crumpler
12 -- Anna Boyd
11 -- Nathaniel Selander.
STUART HEIGHTS HIGH-POINT SCORERS:
None reported.
DALTON HIGH-POINT SCORERS:
19 -- Roman Valdez
17 -- Hannah Smith, Carlin Hudson
16 -- Ethan Young
15 -- Kelly Mashburn, Abby O'Farrell
14 -- Miah Lee, Henry Bethel, Jonathan Shaheen
13 -- Lucien Chenard, Franco Valdez, Julian Hernandez
12 -- Gracison Sanders, Alexis Vaughn,m Gavin Ollis
11 -- Alexander Withrow
10 -- Bella Lee, Ava Whited, Will Haley, Ross Valdez, Daniela Hannah.
WATERDOGS HIGH-POINT SCORERS:
17 -- Julie Bryant
16 -- Brenden Ruckman
15 -- Maya Sharma
14 -- Jae Daupinais
12 -- Tanya Sharma, Joseph Arnett
11 -- Elizabeth Andrews
10 -- Grace Gauphinais, Kyra Nipper, Christian Fetzner, Eduardo Contreras.
CLEVELAND HIGH-POINT SCORERS:
19 -- Lauren Thompson, Grayson Officer, Trey Parris, Ben Cooper
17 -- Peter Falcone, Gracie Jackson, Grayson Payne, Jason Chung
16 -- Breanna Belcher, Macie Starr, Zoe Meyer
15 -- Devon Frakes, Ben Dewitt, Jacob McDaniel, Luke Bixler
14 -- Ashlin Harper, Anna Thompson
12 -- Ian Frakes, Zach Bianucci, Jasper Culpepper
11 -- Owen Clemmons
10 -- Ella Dewitt.
COUNTRY CLUB HIGH-POINT SCORERS:
19 -- Lisa Yates, Conor Yates
17 -- Caroline Schenck, Margaret Anne Hudson, Kevin Martinez
15 -- Elelia Richey, Raif Gork
14 -- Abigail Richey, Vivian Vetzel, Erik Bunton
11 -- Sarah Large, Edwin Richey
10 -- Allison Royal, CeCe Turner, Lee Schemel, Will Turner.
CALHOUN HIGH-POINT SCORERS:
19 -- Allie Workman, Cassie Workman, Cal Parker
17 -- Brandon Webb
16 -- Anne Fogle Jones
15 -- Kailey Klingbeil
14 -- Micah Klingbeil
13 -- Jeremiah Petty
12 -- Keegan Fortenberry, Caleb Black
11 -- Eli Tibbs, Calli Edens, Bryant Mathis
10 -- Ryder Hood, Davis Ruddell, Reagan Fortin, Bryn Anderson, Will Eickman.
CUMBERLAND HIGH-POINT SCORERS:
19 -- Esther Morris, Evelyn Click, Brianne Holsomback
15 -- Liliana Hatch, Kari Morris, Chloe Vernon, Keanu Tun, Liam Carpenter
14 -- Jeremiah Morris
13 -- Juliana Acost
12 -- Adam Tisdale, Jackson Schurr, Jonas Taylor.
11 -- Kimberly Morris
RIDGESIDE HIGH-POINT SCORERS:
19 -- Finn Fitzsimmons
15 -- Aidan Parks
14 -- Madeline Bond, Cleo Scott
13 -- Jack Fitzsimmons,
12 -- Jane Anne Haywood, Burke Murphy, Tyler Staszewski, Max Wiley, Owen Williamson
11 -- Noah Akins, Elizabeth Hall, Sophia Albarakat, Madison Tumblin, Andrew Bond
10 -- Wyatt Williamson.
(Email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@comcast.net)
Red Bank's Asonia Birdsong swims to a first place finish the girls 13-14 50-meter breaststroke event.
photo by