Buffs’ boys swim team dominant in win at Salina

BUFFS ROUNDUP: Friday, Dec. 6, 2019

BOYS SWIMMING

Garden City High School swim team couldn’t have asked for a better start to the 2019-20 season than what they achieved Thursday at the Salina South Invitational.

The Buffs, under head coach Brian Watkins, captured first place in the team competition with 451 points, an impressive 77 points ahead of runner-up Salina South’s 374. Campus was third with 353, with Salina Central (341), Great Bend (314), Hays (222) and Liberal (85) rounding out the team scores.

“This was our strongest showing to begin a season so far as a program,” said Watkins, now coaching his third season with the Buffs. “We are proud of the work this team has put in leading up to the meet.”

The Buffs won six events, including state-qualifying in the 200-yard medley relay (Kobe Otero, Jeremiah Bunce, Connor Cupp, Devin Chappel) in a time of 1:49.26 along with the 400-yard freestyle relay unit of Bunce, Chappel, Cupp and Otero in a time of 3:37.05.

Individuals who won events with state consideration times included Otero in the 200-yard individual medley (2:15.08), Bunce in the 50-yard freestyle (23.70), Cupp in the 100-yard butterfly (58.08) and Bunce in the 100-yard freestyle (53.39). Cupp also raced to a state consideration time of 1:01.35 in the 100-yard freestyle and placed third.

“A lot of focus from other teams was on our group of freshmen, but Bunce and Cupp (both juniors) showed great leadership by swimming great times and leading our younger squad swimmers into their first high school meet,” Watkins said. “Overall, I’m just excited to see where these boys go this season.”

Next up for the Buffs will be the Great Bend Invitational on Tuesday, Dec. 10.