THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Bentonville High School Athletics

BENTONVILLE -- In his six previous years as Fayetteville's swim coach, Michael Kaminiski has watched Bentonville maintain an ironclad grip on the team titles during the North District Championships. That's not the case this year -- at least in one division. Fayetteville's girls ended the Lady Tigers' reign as district title-holders with a 534-480 decision during Friday's meet at the Bentonville Community Center. "I was just very proud of how our team did," Kaminiski said. "It was going to take a full team effort, and everybody did their very best. They left it all in the pool, and all the hard work paid off." Fayetteville trailed by a 414-379 margin with three events remaining, but the 100-yard backstroke turned the momentum in the Lady Bulldogs' favor. Olivia Keith's victory in the event with a time of 58.60 seconds spearheaded a 1-3-7-9 finish, which gave Fayetteville 58 points and the lead for good as Bentonville didn't have a swimmer in the event. The Lady Bulldogs added to their lead, thanks to Audrey McKinnon and Caroline Stelte finishing one-two in the 100 breaststroke. Fayetteville then capped it when the team of Keith, Lizzie Stevens, McKinnon and Kexin Ming won the 400 freestyle relay with a time of 3 minutes, 40.57 seconds. "It was exciting because all of them have personal-best times," Kaminiski said. "The backstroke was a great event for us, and I didn't know Bentonville had anybody in there until I saw the psych sheet. What I did know is we had some strong swimmers in the backstroke, and that always helps us at the end of the meet." Meanwhile, Bentonville's boys continued their dominance in the water as the Tigers took first place in nine of the 12 events and finished with 525 points. Fayetteville was a distant second with 395, followed by second-year Bentonville West with 329. "These kids have been working so hard," Bentonville coach Nick Nersesian said. "They don't want to be the senior class that gives this away. So they're putting in the time and effort, and the results showed. "What stood out was our youngsters. They are starting to come of age, and they're contributing. So it's not just one person. There are several younger swimmers doing it, and that's been sort of the tradition here. You see some of the younger kids come in, and they know the upperclassmen have been successful. So they continue the tradition of stepping up." While Bentonville's younger swimmers are coming on, it was the trio of Ryan Husband, Simon Mooney and Zane Sutton leading the charge. Husband won both the 200 and 100 freestyle, while Mooney took first in the 100 butterfly (54.44) and Sutton claimed the 50 freestyle (21.66) and the 100 breaststroke (59.71). Those three teamed with Owen Radcliffe to cap the meet by winning the 400 freestyle relay, as well as the 200 freestyle relay. Bentonville also picked up wins from Martin Keown in the 1-meter diving, which was held Thursday, and from Austin Mondello in the 500 freestyle (5:07.63). In the Class 6A division, Siloam Springs took the boys title with 431 points, while Russellville nipped Mountain Home for second place by a 342-328 margin. Russellville took the girls title with 503 points to 400 for second-place Siloam Springs. The Panthers started Friday's competition on a good note as the team of Will Gryder, Landon Cottrell, Lee Thompson and Hayden Moore won the 200 medley relay with a time of 1:52.25. Siloam Springs also picked up wins from Owen Thomas in the 200 and 500 freestyle, Landon Cottrell in the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke, Thompson in the 100 butterfly, Gryder in the 100 backstroke, and the team of Moore, Thomas, Thompson and Cottrell in the 400 freestyle relay.

THE OFFICIAL SITE OF
Bentonville High School Athletics

FAYETTEVILLE GIRLS, BENTONVILLE BOYS TAKE DISTRICT TITLES

HENRY APPLE

Arkansas Online | 2/10/2018

PHOTO CREDIT: Bentonville Athletics