Holyoke swimmers winning high point trophies for the 2019 season are pictured from left, front row, Molly Kropp, Braylin Herman, Ridley Brinkema, Alex Brinkema, Rebekah Krieger and Brandon Adler; second row, coach Brenda Krueger, Carter Van Overbeke, Teagan Martin, Tayla Martin, Haley Van Overbeke and Lali Marquez; and back row, coach Emily Krogmeier, Traeli Hutches, Ethan Schneller, Rylee Schneller, Keegan Shaw, coach Amy Krogmeier and coach Aly Brinkema. — Samantha Krieger
Holyoke snags 18 trophies at league swim meet
The July 5-6 league meet for the Northwest Kansas Swim League was fraught with emotion. Beneath the usual rush of competition was a palpable sadness as swimmers learned that Joshua Berens of Colby, Kansas, had died just the day before.
Throughout the 2019 NWKSL season, Berens had competed in the 15-18 boys division. In the events he’d been slated to swim Friday in Wray, a Colby swim bag was placed on his block in his remembrance. On Saturday, a Colby towel served the same purpose.
In addition to Colby, other Kansas teams at the league meet were Goodland, Oakley and Oberlin. Colorado teams were Holyoke, Wray and Burlington. Goodland won the meet with 467.5 points, followed by Holyoke 410, Burlington 256, Colby 152.5, Wray 147, Oakley 67 and Oberlin 36.
Athletes who accumulated the most points in their division at the league meet were presented trophies. From Holyoke, Ridley Brinkema won in the 8 and under boys division, Molly Kropp 8 and under girls, and Keegan Shaw 15-18 boys.
Trophies were also awarded to the top six swimmers in each division, with points accumulated throughout the entire season. Each of Holyoke’s three meet winners also took first in the season overall. Earning second were Brandon Adler in 8 and under boys, Teagan Martin 11-12 boys, Ethan Schneller 13-14 boys (tie), Tayla Martin 13-14 girls and Traeli Hutches 15-18 girls.
Rebekah Krieger took third in 8 and under girls, as did Rylee Schneller in 15-18 girls.
Fourth place went to Braylin Herman in 8 and under girls and Lali Marquez 15-18 girls. Earning sixth were Alex Brinkema 8 and under boys, Carter Van Overbeke 13-14 boys and Haley Van Overbeke 15-18 girls.
Three pool records were also broken by Holyoke swimmers. In the 15-18 girls 200-yard individual medley, Rylee Schneller swam a 2:30.7, breaking a record set in 1990. Crushing the previous record, Teagan Martin swam a 2:30.4 in the 11-12 boys 200-yard freestyle.
Breaking a record he set himself last year, Shaw’s 2:00.9 finish in the 15-18 boys 200-yard freestyle was a whopping 16 seconds faster than the second-place finisher.
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