It was a showdown at Stuart Heights on Thursday night for first place in the Blue division of the Chattanooga Area Swim League.
The host Sharks had turned plenty of heads when they went to Signal Mountain on Monday and nipped the Green Giants by a slim 401-397 final score.
What had been projected to be a dandy meet between unbeaten Ooltewah and Stuart Heights never materialized as the visiting Tidal Waves led from start to finish and improved to 3-0 overall with the 413-357 final.
The Sharks were at full force on Monday, but there were several key individuals missing on Thursday and Stuart Heights simply didn’t have enough fire power to make up the difference.
“We were worried as we knew they had gone to Signal and won on Monday,” said Ooltewah head coach Todd Jones while the freestyle relays were wrapping up.
“Stuart Heights has some unbelievable swimmers and we knew we couldn’t let our guard down, even knowing they were missing a bunch of kids. Our younger kids really did well, but I thought we were consistent across the board and that made the difference. It took a strong effort from everyone on our team for us to win this meet.
“Some of our older kids have been working with the younger ones and doing their best to help them buy into what we’re doing and it’s working great so far. The older ones really stepped up big tonight, but it was the younger ones who really brought it home for us.
“We’ve gotten better every year I’ve been there and we continue to improve with every meet, but the entire attitude about this team is different. It’s hard to describe, but I’m pretty sure this is the best team we’ve ever had,” Jones added with a confident tone.
The Sharks have Jessica Klutz and Katie Sallee who work really well together as co-head coaches.
They both admitted that missing so many individuals really hurt their chances against a good team like Ooltewah.
“It’s always fun to swim Ooltewah, but we’re missing a bunch of kids,” Klutz said before the final races had been completed.
“Our goal today was just to have fun. If you can’t have fun, why do it? This is where these kids make life-long friends. We like to socialize, but we also like to compete. We’re stronger than we’ve been in a while, but you can’t tell it by the final score,” she added.
“We’re not at our best today, but when we are, we have the potential to be the best team in the league,” Sallee said with confidence.
“We had a great meet at Signal Mountain on Monday and it’s tough when you come back and lose at home, but it is what it is. This is a summer league and lots of families have vacation plans.
“We have another big meet here at home on Monday against Dalton and we have to be ready for them. We don’t have time for any long faces. We just wanted to out-touch someone today if possible, but this is the best we could do today,” she smiled.
The Tidal Waves had four swimmers who scored the maximum 19 points, including Noah Holliman, Leah Boyd, Jake Marcum and Jed Holliman.
Brighton Smith and David Sabou both finished with 17 while Anna Boyd chipped in with 16.
Scout Chapin and Ellie Waldrep were the only two Sharks with 19 points.
Sam Powe and Luke Waldrep both had 17 while Max Ransom, Ava McCoy and Georgia Smith all finished with 15 points.
While Stuart Heights will be at home again on Monday to host Dalton, the Tidal Waves will be put to the test at home too as they face Signal Mountain.
THURSDAY'S OTHER winners included Country Club, Waterdogs, Cleveland, Red Bank and Dalton.
OOLTEWAH HIGH-POINT SCORERS:
19 – Noah Holliman, Leah Boyd, Jake Marcum, Jed Holliman
17 – Brighton Smith, David Sabou
16 – Anna Boyd
14 – Ava Grace Gipson, Sarah Sabou
13 – Taylor Reyes, Jilli Cantrell, Madelyn Weathers, Garet Gipson, Emma Scruggs
12 – Seth Dimmer
11 – Hardy Jones
10 – Nolan Holt, Brady Christensen, Keilah Holliman, Jaxson Earhart.
STUART HEIGHTS HIGH-POINT SCORERS:
19 – Scout Chapin, Ellie Waldrep
17 – Sam Powe, Luke Waldrep
15 – Max Ransom, Ava McCoy, Georgia Smith
14 – Jack Sallee
13 – George Von Canon, Molly Mae Ransom
12 – Miles Dzik
10 – Roane Chapin, Trey Lydon, Will White.
FAIRYLAND HIGH-POINT SCORERS:
19 – Ben Bevill
18 – Bella McBryar
17 – Ellie Taliaferro, Frances Bohner
15 – Will Jackson
14 – Wilder Wingfield
13 – Harrison Barnes, Grant McBryar
12 – Carley Braman
11 – Nate Jackson.
COUNTRY CLUB HIGH-POINT SCORERS:
19 – Ryan Berry
17 – Ben Griffith, Jared Foster, Ce Ce Turner, Lydia Bohannon
16 – Robert Buntin
15 – Ian Jacobs
14 – Vivian Vetzel, Kyle Berry
13 – Hadley Golden, Caroline Schenck, Erol House, Margaret Anne Hudson, John Preston Potter
12 – Helen Kates, Emmy Richey, Katie Grace Tudor, Nicholas Johnson
11 – Allison Royal, Ward Richey
10 – Jane Becksvoort, Madi Markey, Lorelei Jacobs, Farah House, Andrew Negus, Anderson Golden.
BIG RIDGE HIGH-POINT SCORERS:
17 – Kate White, Evan Simpson
15 – Millie Watson, Logan Urbanski, Abigail Keener
12 – Nathan Jungels, Carter Milliron
11 – Emily Thompson, Adelyn Simpson
10 – Ryan Wilson, Chris Tate.
CLEVELAND HIGH-POINT SCORERS:
19 – Jacob McDaniel, Ian Frakes, Silas Dunn
17 – Grayson Officer, Breanna Belcher, Anna Thompson, Trey Parris III, Lauren Thompson, Charlie Chittum
15 – Ava Claire Strange, Allanah Freeman
13 – Cameron McDaniel, Ashlin Harper
12 – Becca Nolan, Alaina Chapman, Boston Gravell, Abby Anglin
11 – Zach Bianucci
10 – Luke Hunt, Owen Clemons, Devon Frakes.
RIDGESIDE HIGH-POINT SCORERS:
17 – Owen Eastman, Arianna Bond
15 – Madeline Bond
14 – Wyatt Williamson, Brynne Burkhart
13 – Adelaide Bond
12 – Izzy Bauer, Drew Bond, Maggie Akins, Ella Wiley
11 – Alex Lowry
10 – Wally Staszewski.
RED BANK HIGH-POINT SCORERS:
18 – Luke Massey
17 – Allie Thornbury, Tabitha Wilson, Ben Meagher, Kate Schlegel
15 – Trevor Brooks, Ian Rabon, Virginia Condry
14 – Maddie Grass
13 – Noah Blake, Benton Bilbrey
12 – Sarah Griffith
11 – Luke Meyners
10 – Lauryn Sable, Chase Garner, Eddie Birdsong.
WATERDOGS HIGH-POINT SCORERS:
None reported.
CUMBERLAND HIGH-POINT SCORERS:
None reported.
CALHOUN HIGH-POINT SCORERS:
None reported.
DALTON HIGH-POINT SCORERS:
None reported.
(Email John Hunt at nomarathonmoose@gmail.com)