Bulldog swimmers place in top 35 at IHSA State meet

By FRED KRONER

fred@mahometnews.com

Mahomet-Seymour senior Owen Kearns placed 33^rd and senior teammate Aron Varga was 34^th on Friday (Feb. 23) in the boys’ IHSA swimming state meet at Westmont.

They were also part of a relay – along with Emmett Kearns and Matthew Kirby – that tied for 30^th.

Individually, Owen Kearns was timed in 4:47.24 in the 500-yard freestyle. He was seeded 37^th in the event and moved up four places. There were 42 entries in the race.

Varga’s time in the 200-yard individual medley was 1:57.32. He was ranked 34^th based on sectional performances. There were 40 entries in the race.

The Bulldogs’ 200-yard freestyle relay was timed in 1:30.22 and ended in a tie for 30^th. The group was seeded 32^nd. There were 33 entries in the event.

For the season, which ended with a 12-7 record in dual meets, triangulars or quadrangulars, Owen Kearns broke school records in five individual events: 100-yard butterfly (54.73), 100-yard backstroke (57.74), 500-yard freestyle (4:46.81), 200-yard freestyle (1:46.00) and 100-yard freestyle (49.41).

Varga set new marks in three individual events: 50-yard freestyle (21.97), 100-yard breaststroke (59.76) and 200-yard individual medley (1:56.70).

Both Owen Kearns and Varga – along with Emmett Kearns and Kirby – were on record-setting 200-yard freestyle (1:29.70) and 400-yard freestyle relays (3:23.70).