By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Washburn Rural will be looking for its third straight Centennial League swimming and diving championship Thursday at the Capitol Federal Natatorium.
Senior Nathen Trachta returns to lead the Junior Blues after claiming four gold medals in the 2021 league meet as Washburn Rural won the team title by a 386-353 margin over Manhattan while Seaman was third with 350 points.
Washburn Rural senior Nathen Trachta returns for the Junior Blues after winning four gold medals in last season's Centennial League swimming and diving championships. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Trachta was the individual champion in the 100 butterfly (54.47) and the 100 backstroke (56.54).and also swam on Washburn Rural's winning 200 freestyle (1:31.48) and 400 free (3:22.39) relays, with the Junior Blues setting a league record in the 200 free relay.
Seaman's Colin O'Rourke claimed a league championship in the 200 individual medley in 2:08.63 a year ago and O'Rourke finished second to Trachta in the 100 butterfly (54.80) while the Vikings also placed second in the 200 medley relay (1:46.55).
Runner-up Manhattan won four events in last year's league meet while Emporia's Braxton Hicks won the diving event while setting a league record with a score of 5:48.55.
Washburn Rural placed six swimmers on the All-Centennial League first team last season, with Trachta, Will Powell and Cordell Dimick returning from that team.
O'Rourke and Seaman teammate Adin Florence were all-league honorees last season.
Jack Miranda is scheduled to compete for Washburn Rural in Thursday's Centennial League meet after winning four gold medals in the city meet. [Photo by Rex Wolf/TSN]
Washburn Rural is coming off a narrow 530-526 win over Seaman in the city meet, with Jack Miranda winning four gold medals on the day while Trachta earned three gold medals to go with a second-place finish.
The Centennial League diving competition will get under way at 12 p.m.. Thursday followed by the swimming competition at 5 p.m.
