Freshmen-filled Notre Dame wins Rec Relays

In a field filled with upperclassmen who made multiple state appearances and Semoball Awards nominations, it was a team of freshmen who came out on top.

The Notre Dame Bulldogs, led by freshmen Hudson Densis and Kaiden Cracraft, won the Rec Relays with 66 points, edging Poplar Bluff (48), Cape Central (46), and Jackson (42).

"It feels really good that we can compete against older guys even though most of us are 14, barely 15 years old," Dennis said. "It's just hard work and dedication that really got us there."

Notre Dame took first place in the 200-yard freestyle, 200ymedley (1:50.55), 3x100y backstroke (2:59.41), and 3x300y freestyle (9:27.72) relay race to secure the win.

"It feels really cool considering this is most of our first year swimming," Weston Edwards said. "It's a big accomplishment for Notre Dame as an all-freshman team."

"I didn't think we could do it," Tristin Aguila said, "but I guess we can. We got a lot of good people on this relay team."

Cracraft and Dennis each took home four gold medals from the event. The two have gone back and forth as the top Bulldog of the bunch. The competitive rivalry has fueled both their ascension and that of the team.

"At practice, we always push each other," Dennis said. "At meets, we race, one of us beats the other, we don't showboat or anything, congratulate each other. Just overall, it's positive."

Saxony Lutheran's Tom Hasz competes in the 3x100-yard breaststroke relay in the Rec Relays on Monday, Oct. 16, at the SEMO Recreation Center.Tony Capobianco ~ tcapobianco@semoball.com

Saxony Lutheran entered the Rec Relays with only three swimmers (Jacob Schupp, Tom Hasz, and Mason Landewee). However, the trip won the 3x100y breaststroke (3:46.39), and 3x100y butterfly (3:21.77).

Cape Central won the 3x200y medley (Phineas Theall, Wiley Edmundson, and Kent Sheridan - 7:33.58).

Jackson won the 400y medley (Jan Handke, Jace Glenn, Wade Lavalle, and Lucas King - 4:34.54).

Jackson's Wade Lavalle competes in the 3x100-yard backstroke relay in the Rec Relays on Monday, Oct. 16, at the SEMO Recreation Center. Tony Capobianco ~ tcapobianco@semoball.com

Poplar Bluff, the runner-up, won the 400y freestyle (Carson Todd, Connor Wiggs, Cyrus Sagharichi, and Henry - 3:43.57).

These six teams will return to the SEMO Rec Center on Halloween for the SEMO Conference Meet, which is the main goal for Notre Dame.

"We still want to win conference too," Cracraft said. "That's the main goal. Relays are worth the most points so we want to win those too."

Winning the Rec Relays is a confidence boost for Dennis and the Bulldogs, who see Poplar Bluff as the prime competition.

Poplar Bluff's Cyrus Sagharichi swims in the Rec Relays on Monday, Oct. 16, at the SEMO Recreation Center.Tony Capobianco ~ tcapobianco@semoball.com

"Poplar Bluff and us will be the two relays that would win," Dennis said. "So it felt good that we came out on top this meet but we never know at conference."