POPLAR RIDGE - In what Southern Springs coach Drew Gross called an “awesome battle of the two smallest teams in the IAC,” Southern Springs defeated Odessa-Montour 53-38 in a boys swim meet Thursday.
Michelle Prego-Milewski / Special to The Citizen
Southern Springs' Casey Burns swims to a first-place finish in the 100 butterfly against Odessa-Montour on Thursday.
Southern Springs' Casey Burns swims to a first-place finish in the 100 butterfly against Odessa-Montour on Thursday.
With only nine swimmers on the roster, five of whom have never competed in the sport before, Gross has decided to lean his team toward individual success rather than overall team wins - an approach that worked well against the division-rival Indians, who have only seven swimmers on their roster. The Wolves broke 21 personal records in the meet.
“Tonight was quite an accomplishment,” Gross said. “We're a young team, but we have talent and a lot of drive.”
The four Southern Springs returners - Casey Burns, Cody Burns, Ryan Kachnycz and Spenser Lawyer - placed first in nearly every individual event, including the 200 freestyle (Kachnycz in 2:16), the 200 IM (Cody Burns, 2:30.09), the 100 butterfly (Casey Burns, 1:04.78), 100 freestyle (Lawyer, 57.70), 500 freestyle (Kachnycz, 6:08.42), 100 backstroke (Cody Burns, 1:04.46) and 100 breaststroke (Casey Burns, 1:14.33).
The foursome also teamed up to win the 400 freestyle relay (1:14.33).
Newcomers Brandon Wilmot and Cruiz Ermery teamed up with Casey Burns and Lawyer to take the 200 medley relay (2:14.48).
Despite the small roster, Gross said he believes his team can make some noise this season in his third year as coach.
“I see a lot of enthusiasm and spirit in these guys,” Gross said. “They've got more drive in the meets and they have definitely grown stronger. My expectations keep going up each year. I think two or three of these guys will get to states, and I'd like to see us finish at least third in the IAC Championships, something we haven't been able to do since 1990.”
Gross is not the only one with high expectations. The Burns brothers each expect to set personal records and earn medals in their respective events (Casey in the 50 and 100 freestyles and Cody in the 100 backstroke). After a 5-6 season and a fourth-place finish out of six teams, the team's goals are not outside the realm of possibility.
But to compete with teams that have rosters two to three times bigger than theirs, the Wolves are going to have to depend on their four veterans, who were all ranked in the top three in their events in preseason rankings.
“I'm counting on our returners to mentor the five new guys,” Gross said. “I feel that those four guys will finish among the top in our conference in their events, so that will help the team out a lot.”
“Tonight was quite an accomplishment,” Gross said. “We're a young team, but we have talent and a lot of drive.”
The four Southern Springs returners - Casey Burns, Cody Burns, Ryan Kachnycz and Spenser Lawyer - placed first in nearly every individual event, including the 200 freestyle (Kachnycz in 2:16), the 200 IM (Cody Burns, 2:30.09), the 100 butterfly (Casey Burns, 1:04.78), 100 freestyle (Lawyer, 57.70), 500 freestyle (Kachnycz, 6:08.42), 100 backstroke (Cody Burns, 1:04.46) and 100 breaststroke (Casey Burns, 1:14.33).
The foursome also teamed up to win the 400 freestyle relay (1:14.33).
Newcomers Brandon Wilmot and Cruiz Ermery teamed up with Casey Burns and Lawyer to take the 200 medley relay (2:14.48).
Despite the small roster, Gross said he believes his team can make some noise this season in his third year as coach.
“I see a lot of enthusiasm and spirit in these guys,” Gross said. “They've got more drive in the meets and they have definitely grown stronger. My expectations keep going up each year. I think two or three of these guys will get to states, and I'd like to see us finish at least third in the IAC Championships, something we haven't been able to do since 1990.”
Gross is not the only one with high expectations. The Burns brothers each expect to set personal records and earn medals in their respective events (Casey in the 50 and 100 freestyles and Cody in the 100 backstroke). After a 5-6 season and a fourth-place finish out of six teams, the team's goals are not outside the realm of possibility.
But to compete with teams that have rosters two to three times bigger than theirs, the Wolves are going to have to depend on their four veterans, who were all ranked in the top three in their events in preseason rankings.
“I'm counting on our returners to mentor the five new guys,” Gross said. “I feel that those four guys will finish among the top in our conference in their events, so that will help the team out a lot.”
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