Mike Beeler certainly didn’t intend to put any additional pressure on his swimmers, but the third-year coach for the Calhoun Blue Barracudas talked more than once this week about the fact that they had never beaten the Ringgold Tiger Sharks.
The Blue Barracudas can now say they have beaten the Tiger Sharks and it happened on Thursday night at the Ringgold City Pool in action from the Chattanooga Area Swim League’s Red Division.
It really was a close meet, at least for the first half, but Calhoun flexed its muscles in the final two events – the butterfly and the freestyle relays – to win going away.
Calhoun now has second place all to itself with a record of 2-1 following the 425-369 win.
The Fairyland Flash, which had an open date on Thursday, is in first place among the Red teams at 3-0. Country Club and Ringgold are tied for third at 1-3 while Big Ridge is fifth after getting its first win of the season at Country Club Thursday.
“We’ve never beaten Ringgold and that’s something we’ve talked about all week,” Beeler said as he was informed that his team had a 36-point lead going into the freestyle relays.
“We’re really swimming well and I was proud of how nice and relaxed before this meet began. I think they wanted to win it for me, but we had some little ones really step up and do well.
“I was a little worried coming in as I knew it would be close, but we travel well and that always helps. But I’m just glad they’re having fun and learning about the great sport of swimming. Winning is just a bonus,” Beeler added.
This meet was a true see-saw affair for the first half.
Ringgold built a 68-64 lead following the opening freestyle races while Cahoun bounced back to grab the upper hand at 127-115 following the breaststroke event.
Things were all even at 179 each following the medley relays, but the Blue Barracudas surged ahead with a 51-37 edge in the Individual Medley and it never got any closer.
Both teams scored 66 points in the backstroke races, but Calhoun had a 65-43 advantage in the butterfly event before posting a 64-44 advantage in the free relays to win going away.
Ringgold coach Jackson Barker has been the head coach for the Tiger Sharks for the past two seasons and he’s thrilled with the growth in numbers for his team. Faster times with each passing meet and a bunch of happy youngsters help keep the former Ringgold swimmer smiling from ear to ear.
“We’ve had a lot of personal bests today and we’ve seen a lot of improvement, especially in the younger age groups,” Barker said while the freestyle relays were winding down.
“It’s been a pretty close meet. We’ve really worked hard on technique for the last two weeks and by getting better there, we’re able to drop times. But every kid did their very best in every race and I’m always happy about that, regardless of the final results.
“This is a family affair at Ringgold as we support each other in every race, but we’ve gotten stronger and stronger and we just keep growing,” Barker added.
Chloe Edens, Jeremiah Petty and Alice Workman all scored the maximum 19 points for the Blue Barracudas while Cooper Chappelear, Emma Pulliam and Regan Wingrove all reached the top line for Ringgold.
Brandon Webb had 18 points for Calhoun while teammates Matthew Petty, Phoebe Reid and Joshua Tolson all pitched in with 17 points apiece.
Julia Striker was next for Ringgold with 17 while Victoria Rhinehart was next with 16.
Calhoun will be at home on Monday to host Country Club while Ringgold is off on Monday before going to Country Club on Thursday.
CALHOUN HIGH-POINT SCORERS:
19 – Chloe Edens, Jeremiah Petty, Alice Workman
18 – Brandon Webb
17 – Matthew Petty, Phoebe Reid, Joshua Tolson
16 – Cal Parker
15 – Caleb Black, William Eickman
13 – Vivianne Funes
12 – Luke Driscoll
10 – Brayden Webb, Rachel Hamill, Addison Kelley, Caitlynne Clardy, Anne Eickman, Nathan Eickman.
RINGGOLD HIGH-POINT SCORERS:
19 – Cooper Chappelear, Emma Pulliam, Regan Wingrove
17 – Julia Striker
16 – Victoria Rhinehart
12 – Emma Bradford, Saulye Nichols, Helen Webb, Henry Webb, Mary Mae Webb
11 – Alexandra Van Alstine
10 – Cameron Kolff, Evan Wingrove.
CLEVELAND HIGH-POINT SCORERS:
17 – Peter Falcone, Alexia Jackson
15 – Emily Rollins
13 – Breanna Belcher, Lauren Thompson
12 – Anna Thompson
11 – Rebecca Nolen, Ashlin Harper
10 – Jacob McDaniel, Kaitlynn McDonald, Grayson Officer.
DALTON HIGH-POINT SCORERS:
19 – Reese Bingham, Roman Valdez, Ross Valdez, Ethan Young
18 – Bella Lee
17 – Lucien Chenard, Will Haley
16 – Gracison Saylors
15 – Carson Vaughn, Daniela Hannah, Henry Bethel
14 – Sophia Wagner
13 – Ava Whited, Jsephine Conley, Alexis Vaughn
12 – Brandt Hudson, Carlin Hudson
10 – Blake Barton, Oscar Chenard, Addison Marisko.
BIG RIDGE HIGH-POINT SCORERS:
17 – Evan Simpson
16 – Sam Powe
15 – Nathaniel Farnham
14 – Mae Mae Powe, Sierra Haberhern, Nathan Jungels, Caleb Aslinger, Claire Calhoun, Christopher Farnham
13 – Caroline Carpenter
12 – Abigail Keener, Amelia Watson, Liam Runkle
11 – Elizabeth Tate, Logan Urbanski, Catherine Alford
10 – Adelyn Simpson.
COUNTRY CLUB HIGH-POINT SCORERS:
19 – Ben Griffith, Julia Quernemoen
18 – Lydia Bohannon
17 – Margaret Anne Hudson, Conor Kinley
15 – James Fuller, Emelia Richey, Raif Gork, Cecelia Turner, William Turner
14 – Ward Richey
13 – Zane Smith, Lisa Yates
12 – Madison Markey
11 – Sofia Bell, Jack Gartman, Caroline Schenck
10 – Addison Margio.
RED BANK HIGH-POINT SCORERS:
19 – Connor Boerschig, Amelia Harris, MaKayla Lee
17 – Eddie Birdsong, Austin Camp, Sarah Garner
16 – Chase Hayman
15 – Linsy Devlin, Benjamin Meagher
13 – Mason Meyners, Connor Leming, Jonah King
12 – Samuel Meagher, Luke Meyners, Brentlea Rodgers, Emily Solomon
11.5 – Asonia Birdsong
10 -- William Brooks, Catherine Morgan, Christien Lagorio.
CUMBERLAND HIGH-POINT SCORERS:
19 – Jeremiah Morris
18 – Esther Morris
17 – Kari Morris
14.5 – Chloe Vernon
13 – Lydia Mizutani, LeRonnie Ervin
12 – Lauren Alexander, Preson Lovin
10 –Seth Broadous, MaKenzye Henry, Josy Lewis, Kimberly Morris, Jonas Taylor.
FORT OGLETHORPE HIGH-POINT SCORERS:
18 – Morgyn Easley
16 – Camden Cloud
15 – Megan Easley, Maddox Henry, Lily Marshall, Reese Miller
13 – Timothy DeBord, Marianna Easley
12 – Brandon Edge
11 – Lance Marshall, Emily Smith
10 – Joshua Brown, Liliana Roloff.
RIDGESIDE HIGH-POINT SCORERS:
17 – Noah Akins
16 – Tajarah Goodman, Brandon Lowry
15 – Katherine Staszewski, Beccan Fitzsimmons, Finnegan Fitzsimmons, Madeline Bond
12 – Rowan Fitzsimmons, Ella Wiley
11.5 – Isabella Blankenbaker
11 – Andrew Bond, Anne Dryer, Kathryn Zeglen
10 – Jack Fitzsimmons, Wyatt Williamson, Ian Scott, Arianna Bond.
(Email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@gmail.com)