Wildcats Swim Past Arab for Fifth Straight Win

          Scottsboro’s Wet ‘n’ Wildcats extended their winning streak to five with a big win at Arab Thursday night.  The largest road contingent in years for the Cats- 64 swimmers- overwhelmed the host team with both quality and depth, as 42 SSA swimmers cracked the scoring column.

          The Wildcats were paced by Kristin Copeland, Drew Butler, Zach Reichle, Michael Rossmeier, Kelsey Kokes and Haley, each of whom swept their three individual events and scored 15 points.

          Scottsboro’s 9-10 Boys scored the maximum possible 62 points, led by Butler’s sweep of the IM, Breast and Short Free.  Crossan Cooper (11 pts.) took first in the Back and Cole Cooper (5) first in the Fly, while Cole Johnson (8) notched his first career win with a first place effort in the Long Free.  Patrick Duncan (6) and Jacob Megehee (3) rounded out the scoring, and Dalton Parks and Jason Harris swam well.  Butler, Cooper, Cooper, Parks and Duncan all contributed as the group won both the Medley and Freestyle Relays.

          The 8-Unders led Scottsboro’s girls on the evening with 59 points, featuring Copeland’s sweep of the Short Free, Long Free and Breast.  Maryann Jones (5) took first in the IM, Claire Megehee (8) earned her first career win in the Fly, and Chloe Wendlick (5) captured her first ever victory by placing first in the Back.  Kyla Reichle (9 pts.) had a trio of 2^nd place efforts, and Wimberly Haston (3 pts.) finished 2^nd in the Back.  Megehee, Jones, Reichle and Copeland swept the relay events.  Lilly Green, Savannah Latham, Grace Butler, Shelby Latham, Paige Megehee, Taylor Welch and Anna Leigh Gossett all had nice efforts as well.

          Logan Anderson’s 11 pts. included a victory in the 8-Under Boys Short Free.  Curtis Cooper (6) earned a big win in the Back.

          The 9-10 Girls outscored one of their top district competitors as they tallied 49 points, led by Alexis Heatons 11 pts.  Heaton took first in the IM, while Mary Margaret Green (8) placed first in the Short Free, and Mary Catherine Gossett (6) took first in the Breast.  Hannah Altonji (9) had a trio of 2^nd place swims, and Shonna Browder (1) took third in the Back.  Carli Johnson, Anna Richard, Amanda Albin and Jessica Duncan flirted with scoring.  Green, Gossett, Altonji and Heaton swept the relay events.

          Scottsboro’s 11-12 Boys clawed their way to 40 points, led by Zach Reichle’s sweep of the IM, Breast and Back.  Mark Richard (11) added a victory in the Fly, while John Paul Stolz (6) and Clayton Houser (1) completed the winning Medley Relay team.  Clayton Stewart, Parker Kerce and Taylor Campbell had excellent races as well.

          The 11-12 Girls were paced by Karah Kirkland’s 9 points, with Emily Albin (5), Samantha Hastings (2) and Amelia Braun (1) also earning ribbons.  Meghan Travis, Anna Phillips and Rainy Kennemore were all close to scoring.

          Michael Rossmeier’s sweep of the Short Free, Breast and Long Free highlighted a strong evening for the 13-14 Boys.  Craig Cleaver (10) had victories in the Back and Fly.  Nate Brewer (6) and Jeremiah Keller (3) rounded out the winning relay squads.

          Kelsey Kokes and Shannon Bradbury once again held down the fort for the 13-14 Girls.  Kokes swept the IM, Breast and Back, while Bradbury (11) took first in the Long Free.  Holly Gothart added a point with a 3^rd place effort in the Short Free, and Ashley Baker continued to improve.

          Matt Brewer, Rylee Powell, Breck Rogers and Benton Reed placed first in the 15-18 Boys Medley and Freestyle Relays.  Brewer (8) also took first in the Long Free.  Rogers (6), Nathan Bradbury (3) and Rylee Powell (2) also chipped in points, while Will Conner and Matt McKinley provided strong freestyle efforts.

          The return of Morgan Rogers helped complete the winning 15-18 Girls Medley Relay squad along with Allison Bivens, Haley Abril and Ashley Carter.  Abril led the group by sweeping the Short Free, IM and Long Free.  Bivens (11) once again captured first in the Breast, and Carter earned victories in the Fly and Back.  Rogers added 3 points in the Fly.

          Scottsboro’s coaches were very impressed with the team’s turnout in Arab.  “Last year, we had less than half as many kids make this trip, and we lost,” said Head Coach Diane Richard.  “It’s not easy for 60-plus swimmers and their parents to make this trip, and it was great to see that level of participation from our team.”

          The Wet ‘n’ Wildcats get to take a breather before their season-ending dual meet in Ft. Payne on July 8^th, but will be practicing hard to prepare 79 swimmers for the District II Meet on July 11-12.