Sports
De Smet Swimmers Outlast Ladue in Their Pool
The Rams defeat the Spartans, 95-69, in a two-team showdown.
Whenever and go at it in sports, there's usually very spirited competition. Things were no different on Thursday afternoon.
The Spartans' swim team captured seven first-place finishes in the 12-event meet, and garnered six second-place finishes, which was good enough for a 95-69 win over Ladue in a dual meet at Ladue on Thursday.
Jeremy Baehler and Zack Woods looked strong and took the majority of the wins for De Smet.
Baehler dominated the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 2:08.47 and the 100-yard breaststroke (1:07.85). Baehler has already qualified for state earlier in the season in the 500-yard freestyle with a time of 5.00.65 and the 100 breast stroke in 1:03.76.
“I am trying for state qualifier in the 200 yard IM and in the 200 yard freestyle,” Baehler said.
He said his favorite race is the 500 freestyle. "Not everyone can do that. It is a long grueling race. It takes a lot of effort. I like it because it is challenging and you have to work more to be the best.”
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Zack Woods led the pack in the 50 freestyle (24.53) and took second in the 100 butterfly (1:02.90).
Baehler and Woods teamed up for wins in the 200 yard medley relay (1:51.11) and the 200 freestyle relay (1:39.44).
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Woods talked about his favorite race. “My favorite is the 100 fly. Not many people can do this.” He said it takes a lot of effort and stamina.
Forest Donnell, four year-senior led the way for Ladue with wins in the 200 freestyle (1:51.91), the 100 freestyle (49.99), and anchored the 200 medley relay (1:51.37) and the 400 freestyle relay (3:41.74).
“Overall the whole team did well. Chris Beckmann had his best time (in the relay),” Donnell said. He reiterated that in the relay races “everyone has to be strong.”
Donnell has qualified for the state meet in three races: 200 freestyle (1:49.08); the 100 freestyle (48.88); and the 50 freestyle (22.78).
Donnell has been on the varsity team since his freshman year. “I didn’t want to play soccer because I didn’t like to run, so I tried out for the swim team and found out I was pretty good,” he said.
He is looking at colleges to either compete in swimming or to play water polo.
So for Donnell, it goes something like this: “It all depends on the outcome of the state meet.”