The placings might not indicate such, but the performances Saturday of the Garden City High School boys swimming team indicate continued improvement.
That’s the assessment of coach Brian Watkins, guiding the Buffaloes in the program’s inaugural season.
“We had huge time cuts this week,” Watkins said Saturday after the Buffs competed in the Wichita West Invitational. “Our backstroke swimmers cut a combined 16 seconds between the three of them.”
The boys finished with 32 points to place 10th out of the 13 teams competing.
That group includes Nathaniel Hubbard (1:14.53), Seth Clower (1:15.23 and Jacob Partin (1:22.01) in the 100-yard event.
Top finisher of the day for the Buffs was Aaron Schafer, who placed fifth in the 100-yard breaststroke with a time of 1:13.87.
The 200-yard medley relay team of Hubbard, Schafer, William Keller and Jasper Partin clocked a 2:01.44 to place ninth. The 200-yard freestyle relay unit of Schafer, Keller, Jeremiah Bunce and Jasper Partin also was ninth with a time of 1:47.95. The 400-yard freestyle relay team of Avey Arana, Dominic Combs, Hubbard and Jacob Partin placed 11th with a time of 4:34.89.
“I’m very happy with how hard the boys continue to work this season through the ups and downs that come with building a new program,” Watkins said. “I’m confident there is a lot more room to improve in every event, and these boys are going to put the work in to get it done.”
The Buffs swimmers will return to competition Saturday at the Wichita Heights Invitational. First swim begins at 10 a.m.