Cynthia Clark
Special to the citizen
The Thousand Oaks Otters swim team won its third consecutive Northland Conference Championships title held at the Springs Aquatic Center, Kansas City, Mo., July 16-18.
The Otters lead the scoring with 3,400 points, with the New Mark Stingrays following with 2,619 points.
While the Otters finished first, five swimmers tied for first-place with 81 points each: Isaac Dierker (12, Thousand Oaks Otters), Chris Franson (14, Brooktree), Chloe Myers (14, Thousand Oaks Otters), Paige Riekhof (18, Riss Lake Riptides) and Grant Sloan (18, Kearney).
One of the top five swimmers, Paige Riekhof, a 2018 graduate of Park Hill South High School, is heading to University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., on a swimming and academic scholarship in mid-August.
Riekhof was not only happy to finish her childhood swimming days on top, but she was also excited to be a good example to the younger kids on her team, the Riss Lake Riptides.
“I also coach the younger swimmers,” she said, “my favorite part of it all was showing them hard work pays off.”
Now that her time with the Riptides is up, she’s looking forward, especially as a student at Kansas. “I’ve been wanting to go to Kansas all my life, it’s going to be nice to start school, swim, and get my future started.”
Even though not every first-place swimmer is headed off to college this year, or done with their childhood team, it was still pretty exciting for them to do so well.
“My hard work paid off, it felt amazing,” said Isaac Dierker. “I knew how tough the competition was, I was very proud of how well I did.”
According to Donovan Smith, president of the Northland Swim Conference, this year’s championships also lauded seven Northland Conference records.
The team award for most improved went to the Walnut Creek Swim Team, for an average of 3.42 seconds improvement per swim during the dual meet season. The Conference Spirit Award, voted on by team coaches, went to The Coves Swim Team. The Tim Kidder Memorial Award went to Kim Bernhardt, a New Mark Stingray, for her personal dedication and contributions to the Northland Swim Conference and the broader sport of swimming.
The 2018 season brought a new team, the Woodneath Farms Whitecaps, and more than 1,600 swimmers this season and 1,508 swimmers swam in at least one dual meet, which created 18,086 swims, 867 competitors at the championships, with 504 swimmers making it to the finals.
Results with names, age division, places and winning time are listed below.
Boys 8&U 100-meter relay: 1. Woodneath Whitecaps, 1:28.96; 2. New Mark Stingrays; 3. Walnut Creek Swim Team.
Girls 8&U 100-meter relay: 1. Thousand Oaks Otters, 1:39.33; 2. Brooktree Swim Team; 3. Riss Lake Riptides.
Boys 9-10 200-meter relay: 1. New Mark Stingrays, 3:10.3; 2. Riss Lake Riptides; 3. Thousand Oaks Otters.
Girls 9-10 200-meter relay: 1. The Coves Swim Team, 2:57.90; 2. Thousand Oaks Otters; 3. Riss Lake Riptides.
Boys 11-12 200-meter relay: 1. Thousand Oaks Otters, 2:24.03; 2. Hills of Walden Hurricanes; 3. New Mark Stingrays.
Girls 11-12 200-meter relay: 1. Clayview Cahunas, 2:23.11; 2. Thousand Oaks Otters; 3. New Mark Stingrays.
Boys 13-14 200-meter relay: 1. Riss Lake Riptides, 2:09.43; 2. New Mark Stingrays; 3. Thousand Oak Otters.
Girls 13-14 200-meter relay: 1. Thousand Oaks Otters, 2:12.87; 2. Brooktree Swim Team; 3. Riss Lake Riptides.
Boys 15-18 200-meter relay: 1. Old Pike Swim Team, 1:51.40; 2. Kearney Swim Team; 3. Thousand Oaks Otters.
Girls 15-18 200-meter relay: 1. Clayview Cahunas, 2:06.88; 2. Thousand Oaks Otters; 3. Kearney Swim Team.
Boys 8&U 25-meter freestyle: (A) 1. Connor Landuyt, 17.10; 2. Alec Unterreiner 3. Colin Teson. (B) 1. Mason Naseem, 19.33; 2. Samuel Oetting; 3. Rylan Lynch.
Girls 8&U 25-meter freestyle: (A) 1. Taytum Schnakenberg, 18.52; 2. Avery Kunnen; 3. Maddison French. (B) 1. Kennedy Roberts, 20.83; 2. Claire Dierker; 3. Elaina Wells.
Boys 9-10 50-meter freestyle: (A) 1. Whitaker Steward, 34.85; 2. Andrew Hill; 3. Dante Toapanta. (B) 1. Grant Windmeyer, 37.83; 2. Everett Grower; 3. Wade Matthys.
Girls 9-10 50-meter freestyle: (A) 1. Lizzie Landuyt, 35.39; 2. Ellis McGraw; 3. Avree Melhus. (B) 1. Bella, Ah-Mu, 39.08; 2. Caroline Ballou; 3. Kenadee Davis.
Boys 11-12 50-meter freestyle: (A) 1. Isaac Dierker, 28.46; 2. Jacob Duckworth. 3. Kyle Dunaway. (B) 1. Deacon Gutshall, 33.09; 2. Palmer Keith; 3. Pearson Wheeler.
Girls 11-12 50-meter freestyle: (A) 1. Ana Williamson, 31.24; 2. Adrienne Wager; 3. Drew DeLay. (B) 1. Riley Franklin, 32.73; 2. Holly Young; 3. Reagan Phillips.
Boys 13-14 50-meter freestyle: (A) 1. Luke Brown, 26.29; 2. Jacob Palmeter; 3. Carson Smith. (B) 1. Bradley Brown, 30.21; 2. Jack Duffy; 3. Landon Teeter.
Girls 13-14 50-meter freestyle: (A) 1. Claire Houston, 28.28; 2. Lola Reuscher; 3. Brayden Adams. (B) 1. Ella Coon, 31.19; 2. Kintzli Wagner; 3. Avery Rothert.
Boys 15-18 50-meter freestyle: (A) 1. Grant Sloan, 23.27; 2. Nathan Noll; 3. Jordan Timmerman. (B) 1. Hunter Dieffenbach, 25.33; 2. Blaise McCoy; 3. Isaac Lee.
Girls 15-18 50-meter freestyle: (A) 1. Paige Riekhof, 26.70; 2. Nani Welsh; 3. Brooklynn Pierce. (B) 1. Rachel Janiak, 28.43; 2. Lizzie Bitner; 3. Mollie Dillingham.
Boys 8&U 25-meter butterfly: (A) 1. Colin Teson, 19.85; 2. Graham Henderson; 3. Tommy Hoffecker. (B) 1. Andon Koren, 27.65, 2. Miles Cooper; 3. Anthony Carr.
Girls 8&U 25-meter butterfly: (A) 1. Hailey Kuennen, 19.30; 2. Taytum Schnakenberg; 3. Avery Kuennen. (B) 1. Ella Black, 25.20; 2. Ellie Duensing; 3. Neala McHugh.
Boys 9-10 50-meter butterfly: (A) 1. Tyler Briggs, 37.28; 2. Whitaker Steward; 3. Andrew Hill. (B) 1. Canon Martin, 46.77; 2. Scott Thornton; 3. Brady Scamman.
Girls 9-10 50-meter butterfly: (A) 1. Bella Knittig, 37.77; 2. Alysa Schieber 3. Reese Dugan. (B) 1. Mia Lakes, 45.27; 2. Ava Maus; 3. Caroline Ballou.
Boys 11-12 50-meter butterfly: (A) 1. Isaac Dierker, 32.88; 2. Cole James; 3. Grant Goforth. (B) 1. Gabriel Wells, 40.05; 2. Cooper Robke; 3. Deacon Gutshall.
Girls 11-12 50-meter butterfly: (A) 1. Avery Whalen, 33.09; 2. Lily Palmer; 3. Tori Tarr. (B) 1. Ellie Hanchette, 37.59; 2. Riley Franklin; 3. Josie Morgan.
Boys 13-14 50-meter butterfly: (A) 1. Chris Franson, 28.22; 2. Alec Enyeart; 3. Eli Stammler. (B) 1. Adam Hoffman, 31.27; 2. Hunt Listrom; 3. Nathan Hearst.
Girls 13-14 50-meter butterfly: (A) 1. Chloe Myers 29.91; 2. Sydney Staebell; 3. Lola Reuscher. (B) 1. Kaelie Link, 33.61; 2. Corrina Roth; 3. Aspyn Howard.
Boys 15-18 50-meter butterfly: (A) 1. Nathan Noll, 26.84; 2. Caden DeLay; 3. Nick Dieffenbach. (B) 1. Spencer Adamson, 28.24; 2. Blaise McCoy; 3. Isaac Lee.
Girls 15-18 50-meter butterfly: (A) 1. Paige Riekhof, 28.76; 2. Brooklynn Pierce; 3. Mollie Dillingham. (B) 1. Ashlyn Pope, 31.63; 2. Lizzie Bitner; 3. Shea Williams.
Boys 8&U 25-meter backstroke: (A) 1. Alec Anterreiner, 21.36; 2. Connor Landuyt; 3. Graham Henderson. (B) 1. George Schaer, 25.11; 2. Colin Teson; 3. Tommy Hoffecker.
Girls 8&U 25-meter backstroke: (A) 1. Charlee Holst, 23.14; 2. Hailey Kuennen; 3. Taelynn Shupe. (B) 1. Maddison French, 25.79; 2. Addison Lee; 3. Alayna, Leslie.
Boys 9-10 50-meter backstroke: (A) 1. Tyler Briggs, 41.16; 2. Sam Hennenfent; 3. Grant Windmeyer. (B) 1. Isaac Pesek, 49.45; 2. Dante Toapanta; 3. Gabe Caponetto.
Girls 9-10 50-meter backstroke: (A) 1. Avree Melhus, 40.81; 2. Lizzie Landuyt; 3. Caroline Jury. (B) 1. Izzie Leitterman, 47.35; 2. Drew Kasyjanski; 3. Grace Calcote.
Boys 11-12 50-meter backstroke: (A) 1. Isaac Dierker, 34.65; 2. Josh Pope; 3. Jack Stanley. (B) 1. Brennan Boord, 40.83; 2. Lane Austin; 3. Jack Francis-Cummins.
Girls 11-12 50-meter backstroke: (A) 1. Adrienne Wagner, 34.68; 2. Lily Palmer; 3. Libby Hearst. (B) 1. Reagan Phillips, 37.89; 2. Ellie Hanchette; 3. McKelvey McDaniel.
Boys 13-14 50-meter backstroke: (A) 1. Chris Franson, 30.39; 2. Luke Brown; 3. Andrew Augustine. (B) 1. Jase Callaway, 34.33; 2. Carson Smith; 3. Simon Miller.
Girls 13-14 50-meter backstroke: (A) 1. Brayden Adams, 31.54; 2. Sydney Staebell; Henley Schmalz-Turner. (B) 1. Amara Ansell, 36.13; 2. Kaelie Link; 3. Kintzli Wagner.
Boys 15-18 50-meter backstroke: (A) 1. Robbie Hill, 27.01; 2. Jackson Garrett; 3. Jordan Timmerman. (B) 1. Zander Livingston, 29.94; 2. Fletcher Burns; 3. Spencer Adamson.
Girls 15-18 50-meter backstroke: (A) 1. Georgia Clark, 31.27; 2. Madisyn Carmichael; 3. Emma Clark. (B) 1. Kaitlyn Morris, 33.65; 2. Morgan Bonderer; 3. Ashlyn Pope.
Boys 9-10 100-meter IM: (A) 1. Whitaker, Steward, 1:27:03; 2. Tyler Briggs; 3. Kemper Roberts. (B) 1. Garrison Wells, 1:43:61; 2. Isaac Pesek; 3. Canon Martin.
Girls 9-10 100-meter IM: (A) 1. Ellis McGraw, 1:26:82; 2. Bella Knittig; 3. Katie McGinnis. (B) 1. Alysa Schieber, 1:38:44; 2. Anna Pudenz; 3. Bella Ah-Mu.
Boys 11-12 100-meter IM: (A) 1. Jacob Duckworth, 1:15.13; 2. Kyle Dunaway; 3. Henry Snider. (B) 1. Cole James, 1:21.82; 2. Evan Crim; 3. Pearson Wheeler.
Girls 11-12 100-meter IM: (A) 1. Caitlin Hartwig, 1:16.92; 2. Lily Palmer; 3. Adrienne Wagner. (B) 1. Madeleine Stone, 1:22.70; 2. Mia James; 3. Libby Hearst.
Boys 13-14 100-meter IM: (A) 1. Chris Franson, 1:06.33; 2. Alec Enyeart; 3. Luke Brown. (B) 1. Alex Briggs, 1:13.28; 2. Simon Miller; 3. Andrew Nelson.
Girls 13-14 100-meter IM: (A) 1. Chloe Myers, 1:07.88; 2. Claire Houston; 3. Sydney Staebell. (B) 1. Meredith Ballou, 1:19.10; 2. Kaelie Link; 3. Lydia Riggs.
Boys 15-18 100-meter IM: (A) 1. Grant Sloan, :58.34; 2. Robbie Hill; 3. Caden DeLay. (B) 1. Tyler Godsey, 1:04.57; 2. Henry Kasyjanski; 3. Sam Duesterhaus.
Girls 15-18 100-meter IM: (A) 1. Paige Riekhof, 1:05.17; 2. Nani Welsh; 3. Courtney Myers. (B) 1. Lizzie Bitner, 1:12.42; 2. Rachel Janiak; 3. Nadya McCullough.
Boys 8&U 25-meter breaststroke: (A) 1. Connor Landuyt, 24.30; 2. Tate Stone; 3. Easton Vacanti. (B) 1. Beau Jonkman, 26.84; 2. Nico Pastorino; 3. Luke Maher.
Girls 8&U 25-meter breaststroke: (A) 1. Charlee Holst, 24.97; 2. Luci Stalone; 3. Taytum Schnakenberg. (B) 1. Kennedy Roberts, 27.75; 2. Ellie Pittman; 3. Ashlyn Hines.
Boys 9-10 50-meter breaststroke: (A) 1. Seth Augustine, 49.97; 2. Kemper Roberts; 3. Joe Brandom. (B) 1. Aidan Poynter, 54.51; 2. Wade Matthys; 3. Jamin Callaway.
Girls 9-10 50-meter breaststroke: (A) 1. Ellis McGraw, 45.34; 2. Bella Knittig; 3. Carley Cowan. (B) 1. Lucy Hemphill, 50.52; 2. Jordan Stoker; 3. Caroline McCoy.
Boys 11-12 50-meter breaststroke: (A) 1. Jacob Duckworth, 37.70; 2. Kyle Dunaway; 3. Henry Snider. (B) 1. Cole James, 44.12; 2. Cameron Cooper; 3. Trig Mabrey.
Girls 11-12 50-meter breaststroke: (A) 1. Drew DeLay, 38.39; 2. Ellie McWhorter; 3. Ana Williamson. (B) 1. Mya Quarles, 43.89; 2. Zella Berberich; 3. Sofia Perdomo.
Boys 13-14 50-meter breaststroke: (A) 1. Andrew Augustine, 34.60; 2. Jacob Palmeter; 3. Alec Enyeart. (B) 1. Adam Hoffman, 39.45; 2. Owen Riddle; 3. Caden Mills.
Girls 13-14 50-meter breaststroke: (A) 1. Chloe Myers, 33.70; 2. Claire Houston; 3. Natalie Maris. (B) 1. Aspyn Howard, 38.63; 2. Elyse Payne; 3. Makenna Williams.
Boys 15-18 50-meter breaststroke: (A) 1. Grant Sloan, 28.97; 2. Caden DeLay; 3. Tyler Godsey. (B) 1. Nate Meyer, 33.08; 2. Vaughn Sloan; 3. Hunter Dieffenbach.
Girls 15-18 50-meter breaststroke: (A) 1. Nani Welsh, 35.77; 2. Courtney Myers; 3. Emma Clark. (B) 1. Alexis Colpitts, 39.32; 2. Amelia Lee; 3. Payton Morrison.
Boys 8&U 100-meter freestyle relay: 1. Woodneath Whitecaps, 1:16.39; 2. Thousand Oaks Otters; 3. Walnut Creek Swim Team.
Girls 8&U 100-meter freestyle relay: 1. Thousand Oaks Otters, 1:20.59; 2. New Mark Stingrays; 3. Riss Lake Riptides.
Boys 9-10 200-meter freestyle relay: 1. New Mark Stingrays, 2:40.12; 2. Walnut Creek Swim Team; 3. Thousand Oaks Otters.
Girls 9-10 200-meter freestyle relay: 1. Thousand Oaks Otters, 2:35.24; 2. Clayview Cahunas; 3. Riss Lake Riptides.
Boys 11-12 200-meter freestyle relay: 1. Thousand Oaks Otters, 2:03.06; 2. Hills of Walden Hurricanes; 3. New Mark Stingrays.
Girls 11-12 200-meter freestyle relay: 1. Thousand Oaks Otters, 2:07.74; 2. New Mark Stingrays; 3. Clayview Cahunas.
Boys 13-14 200-meter freestyle relay: 1. Riss Lake Riptides, 1:54.40; 2. New Mark Stingrays; 3. Thousand Oaks Otters.
Girls 13-14 200-meter freestyle relay: 1. Thousand Oaks Otters, 2:00.65; 2. Clayview Cahunas; 3. Old Pike Swim Team.
Boys 15-18 200-meter freestyle relay: 1. Old Pike Swim Team, 1:39.28; 2. Kearney Swim Team; 3. Thousand Oaks Otters.
Girls 15-18 200-meter freestyle relay: 1. Clayview Cahunas, 1:51.52; 2. Thousand Oaks Otters; 3. Kearney Swim Team