Varga and Kearns break school records at Urbana Invitational

By Fred Kroner

Two Mahomet-Seymour swimmers broke school records on Saturday (Jan. 28) at the eight-team Urbana Invitational in events they had set earlier in the high school season.

Aron Varga shattered two marks. He lowered his time in the 200-yard individual medley from 2:04.44 to 2:03.10.

He also reduced his 100-yard breaststroke time from 1:03.26 to 1:03.06.

Varga was the individual winner in both events.

Owen Kearns reduced his school-record mark in the 500-yard freestyle from 5:06.45 to 5:04.10. Kearns was the event winner.

M-S placed fifth with 271 points. The meet champion was Bloomington Central Catholic (373), followed by Pontiac (356).

The Bulldogs didn’t win any other events, but two relays – both featuring Varga and Kearns – finished in the runner-up position.

Aaron Smith and Emmett Kearns were featured on both of the second-place relays as well.

The foursome was timed in 1:48.51 in the 200-yard medley. In the 400-yard freestyle relay, their cumulative time was 3:35.29.

M-S’ other top-five placers were Owens Kearns (second in the 200-yard freestyle in 1:54,25), Emmett Kearns (fourth in the 200-yard freestyle in 1:58.97) and Smith (fifth in the 100-yard backstroke in 1:07.46).

Also placing among the top eight were Emmett Kearns (sixth in the 100-yard butterfly in 1:04.34) and Smith (eighth in the 50-yard freestyle in 25.91 seconds).

M-S returns to action on Saturday (Feb. 18) in the 33-team IHSA Urbana Sectional.