By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
He's still just 17 years old, but Cordell Dimick is the grizzled veteran for the Washburn Rural boys swimming team.
"I'm the only senior, so pretty much,'' Dimick said after helping the Junior Blues win a tight three-team race for the team title in Wednesday's Hayden Invitational at the Capitol Federal Natatorium.
Washburn Rural senior Cordell Dimick was a double individual champion in Wednesday's Hayden Invitational, helping the Junior Blues win the team title by two points. [Photo by Rex Wolf/T
Washburn Rural's Cordell Dimick (left) and Hayden's Ryan Johnson exchange congratulations after finishing one-three in the 200-yard individual medley in Wednesday's Hayden Invitational. {Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
As the elder statesman, Dimick has taken on a leadership role for Rural, which is the reigning city and Centennial League champion.
"It kind of sucks that there's no other seniors to share that with, but it's kind of fun because it's like everyone looks up to you so it hypes you up a bit,'' Dimick said.
"It's always good to be there for the other teammates, cheering them on, and even if they don't do good in the race, just to help get them ready for the next one.''
With no plans to swim in college, Dimick's focus is on making the most of his final season of competitive swimming.
Dimick is off to a quick start in that regard, including a big day in Wednesday's Hayden meet.
"I've been doing club swimming as well so I was building up for it, but I've been feeling a lot better for high school swimming, so it's been good,'' Dimick said.
On Wednesday Dimick won the 200-yard individual medley in 2 minutes, 13.52 seconds and the 100 breastroke in 1:04.86 and teamed with Brogan Meier, Will Powell and Luke Lemke to win the meet-opening 200 medley relay by eight seconds in 1:46.43.
"This the first time i've qualified for state in the breaststroke so I'm really excited about that,'' Dimick said, "and I dropped a second in the IM and a second in the 100 breast.''
Meier, a junior, was a part of four wins on the day as the Junior Blues won the team championship in the nine-school meet by a 330-328 margin over Piper and McPherson, who tied for second place.
Washburn Rural's Brogan Meier won two individual events and was part of two winning relays in Wednesday's Hayden Invitational. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Meier won by just under 12 seconds in the 200 freestyle (1:52.40), won the 100 backstroke (56.32) and also swam on the winning 200 medley relay and the 400 free relay (3:36.27), teaming with Elijah Leenerts, Lemke and Powell to clinch the team title.
Powell also posted a win in the 500 freestyle in 5:20.08 and finished second in the 100 butterfly (57.52) while Lemke fnished second in the 100 free (55.02).
Host Hayden finished sixth as a team, getting a pair of third-place finishes from senior Ryan Johnson in the 200 IM (2:21.09) and the 100 freestyle (56.17).
Johnson also teamed with Brody Beckman, Eli Wahlmeier and Dylan Gregg for a third-place finish in the 200 free relay (1:43.92).
Topeka West finished ninth with 15 points, led by Brady Clark's ninth-place finish in the 100 backstroke (1:20.42).
HAYDEN INVITATIONAL
At Capitol Federal Natatorium
Team scores
Washburn Rural 330, Piper 328, McPherson 328, Osawatomie/Paola/Louisburg 288, Bishop MIege 239, Hayden 224, Junction City 185, Wichita Trinity 109, Topeka West 15.
Individual results
200 medley relay -- 1. Washburn Rural (Meier, Dimick, Powell, Lemke), 1:46.43; 2. Bishop Miege (Goulding, Carman, Elder, Hernandez), 1:54.60; 3 Piper (Hein, Seal, Kirchoff, White), 1:56.06.
200 freestyle -- 1. Meier, Washburn Rural, 1:52.40; 2. Terflinger, Osawatomie/Paola/Louisburg, 2:04.16; 3. Duarte, Junction City, 2:10.87.
200 individual medley -- 1. Dimick, Washburn Rural, 2:13.52; 2. Jamison, Osawatomie/Paola/Louisburg, 2:15.41; 3. Johnson, Hayden, 2:21.09.
50 freestyle -- 1. Elder, Bishop Miege, 23.85; 2. Reed, McPherson, 23.88; 3. White, Piper, 24.35.
100 butterfly -- 1. Brown, Osawatomie/Paola/Louisburg, 56.50; 2. Powell, Washburn Rural, 57.62; 3. Reed, McPherson, 59.82.
100 freestyle -- 1. Terflinger, Osawatomie/Paola/Louisburg, 53.34; 2. Lemke, Washburn Rural, 55.02; 3. Johnson, Hayden, 56.17.
500 freestyle -- 1. Powell, Washburn Rural, 5:20.08; 2. White, Piper, 5:59.28; 3. Hebert, Oswatomie/Paola/Louisburg, 5:59.91.
200 free relay -- .1. Osawatomie/Paola/Louisburg (Jamison, Prettyman, Brueggen, Brown), 1:40.02; 2. Bishop Miege (Goulding, Rydzel, Hernandez, Elder), 1:40.59; 3. Hayden (Johnson, Beckman, Wahlmeier, Gregg), 1:43.92.
100 backstroke -- 1. Meier, Washburn Rural, 56.32; 2. Brown, Osawatomie/Paola/Louisburg, 1:02.42; 3. Kirchoff, Piper, 1:07.06.
100 breastroke -- 1. Dimick, Washburn Rural, 1:04.86; 2. Sanner, Junction City, 1:07.49; 3. Jamison, Osawatomie/Paola/Louisburg, 1:08.20.
400 free relay -- 1. Washburn Rural (Meier, Leenerts, Lemke, Powell), 3:36.27; 2. Bishop Miege (Hernandez, Elder, Goulding, Rydzel), 3:48.16; 3. McPherson (Reed, Schuckman, House, Garcia_, 3:54.27.
