Compiling 10 first-place finishes Thursday in its home waters, the Sturgis swimming and diving team claimed a 113-73 victory over Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference foe Loy Norrix.
The Trojans are now 2-2 in league competition with one remaining next Thursday against Battle Creek Central.
Without much practice time recently due to school closures, head coach Andy Feyes was thrilled to pocket a win but not particularly impressed with the team’s times.
“It was a good win for the boys but it was a tough meet for them as well,” he said. “The times tonight hurt a little bit because of not being able to practice for a few days but I will still take the win.”
Sturgis steered things in the right direction immediately with a victory by Daniel Tetzloff, Hunter Stanke, Michael Clark and Grant Brown in the 200 medley relay (1:48.51).
Stanke, Brandon Jones, Nathan Stemen and David Polzin combined for first in the 200 free relay (1:41.67), and Stemen, Jones, Tetzloff and Brown teamed up for a victory in the 400 free relay (3:40.74).
Stemen added a first place in the 200 free with a time of 2:01.44, Jones won both the 200 individual medley (2:17.40) and the 500 free (5:27.97), Brown tacked on a win in the 100 free (53.41), Tetzloff touched first in the 100 backstroke (1:00.96), Stanke was first in the 100 breastroke with a time of 1:06.83 and Kris Gibbs posted a score of 216.15 to top his diving competition.
So far this season, Stanke has qualified for the Division 3 state finals in the 100 breaststroke and is nearing qualifying times in the 100 fly and 200 IM. Tetzloff has qualified in the 100 backstroke and Brown is very close in the 100 and 50 free. The 200 free quartet of Brown, Polzin, Stemen and Stanke has already punched its ticket.
Sturgis will be back in the water this Saturday at the DeWitt Invitational and at our last home meet of the year next Thursday.