Lying in wait through the first two months of the season, Head Coach Jonathan Reeder unleashed his Cougars this weekend in Conway, Arkansas, in the final meet of the fall season as the Barton Community College swim teams came away with a title and runner-up finish at the Hendrix Invitational.
Winning just two relay events in the two-days of aqua time, the deep and talented Cougar men captured the title with 652 points to edge out host Hendrix College's 645 total.
The Lady Cougars won all four relay events and hit the wall first in five individual events to pile up 627 points of the seven team field to finish runner-up to Hendrix' 857 total points.
"All around I think we had an incredible meet!" said Reeder. "I couldn't be happier as a coach to watch these young athletes come out, compete, and win! We had the opportunity to jump up and place in faster heats and they pulled through. I can't wait to keep it rolling!"
Elizabeth Spitz won three of the Cougars' five titles, taking the 100 breaststroke, 100 IM, and 200 breaststroke. McKayla Siemiller earned two golds on the day with a 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke title. The duo teamed with Cassandre Zenon and Reagan Smyth to win the 200 free relay (1:40.09) and 200 medley (1:50.04). Spitz and Zenon also helped lead the 400 medley to victory as Abigail Frye led off with Elizabeth Schrock on the anchor for a 4:11.81 clocking. Barton made it a clean sweep in the relays with Smyth, Schrock, and Siemiller being joined by Kayla Hennen for a sixteen second victory with a 3:46.32 400 free relay title.
The Cougar men won two of the relays while placing runner-up in the other pair of team events. David Garcia, Isaac Panzer, William Spitz, and Elijae Draper brought home gold in the 200 free relay with a 1:26.81 time as the other title came in the 400 yard variety as Garcia, Panzer, and Spitz welcomed Christian Taylor to the tandem in a 3:17.48 victory.
Barton will have over a month and a half until its next meet before heading to Colorado Springs, Colorado, for the two day Colorado College Classic held January 19-20.
Complete Hendrix Invitational results