The Philomath High School swim teams competed in their first full invitational of the season Saturday with a trip to the Salvation Army Kroc Center in Salem for a six-school meet hosted by Blanchet Catholic.
The Warriors boys were a solid second and the girls finished third just a half-point out of the runner-up spot. Individually, PHS freshman Lucas Brandt was the team’s star of the meet with two first-place finishes. Junior Kyah Weeber and senior Marshall Morrison also had victories.
In the boys’ portion of the meet, Brandt was a highlight with his two victories. Brandt won the 200-yard individual medley by 13.44 seconds over the runner-up and later took the 100-yard butterfly in 1:00.80 with sophomore teammate Cameron McLennan finishing second in 1:04.97.
Morrison took first in the 500 freestyle by about 7-1/2 seconds over the runner-up and placed second in the 200 freestyle in 2:29.14. Senior Henry Katsikis placed second in the 100 freestyle (1:00.24). McLennan had a third in the 200 IM (2:40.72).
All three PHS relays had second-place showings. The 200 medley relay of Brandt, junior Alex Dye, McLennan and Katsikis swam a time of 1:57.70. The 200 freestyle relay of Katsikis, McLennan, Dye and Brandt finished in 1:47.25. In the 400 freestyle relay, freshman Wyatt Coen, Morrison, sophomore Mason Stevens and junior Emmitt Gaskey touched in 4:39.92.
Cascade was first in the team standings with 127 with Philomath second at 116 and Blanchet Catholic third at 98.
For the girls, Weeber in the 500 freestyle set the winning pace early and went on to take first place by more than 20 seconds over the runner-up. Weeber also had a runner-up finish in the 200 IM with a time of 2:41.04.
Junior Kateri Pindell placed among the top three in two individual events with second in the 100 breaststroke (1:29.24) and third in the 50 freestyle (32.27).
Two other PHS swimmers had runner-up performances in the individual events with freshman Kate Burriel in the 100 butterfly (1:23.39) and junior Brooke McDaniel in the 100 IM (1:33.30). Junior Hanna McDaniel placed third in the 100 breaststroke (1:30.56).
The Warriors also had top-three finishes in two relays. Sophomore Logan Cook, sophomore Jessica McLennan, senior Madison Juhl and Weeber placed second in the 400 freestyle in 5:13.84. The foursome of McLennan, Pindell, Weeber and Juhl took third in the 200 medley relay in 2:22.35.
Salem Academy had the top girls team with 105 points, followed by Stayton’s 90 and Philomath’s 89.5 to round out the top three.
Philomath’s upcoming schedule shows home meets on Tuesday with Marist Catholic, Kennedy and Rainier, and on Friday with Sweet Home and Rainier. Both meets have 3:45 p.m. start time at Clemens Community Pool.
