SEALS fare well in Ozark Conference competition

The SEALS swim team representing the Southeast Aquatic League finished ninth out of 19 teams in the Ozark Conference Short Course Swim Championships on Feb. 26 and Feb. 27.

The team's roster includes 23 swimmers -- 17 of whom qualified for the championships -- competing against some St. Louis and Illinois teams with more than 200 members.

Swimmers who placed in the championships at the event were:

* Matt Gibson (boys 10 and under), sixth place in the 100 butterfly, seventh in the 50 fly, eighth in the 100 freestyle, eighth in the 100 backstroke and 13th in the 50 backstroke.

* Joseph Gray (boys 10 and under), fifth in 50 freestyle, sixth in 100 free, sixth in 50 breaststroke, sixth in 100 breaststroke, eighth in 200 free, 11th in 100 fly, 12th in 50 fly.

* Connor McGinnis (boys 10 and under), winner of the high point trophy, first in the 200 free, 50 back, 100 IM, 100 back; and second in the 200 IM, 100 fly and 100 free.

* Lauren Castleman (girls 11-12), third in the 50 free, fifth in the 50 fly, ninth in the 100 free, 11th in the 100 fly, 13th in the 200 free, 14th in the 50 breast.

* Dylan Blumenthal (boys 11-12), first in the 50 free and 100 free, third in the 200 IM, fourth in the 500 free, fifth in the 200 free, fifth in the 50 fly, sixth in the 100 fly.

* Ryan Gibson (boys 11-12), first in the 100 fly, second in the 50 back, second in the 100 IM, second in the 100 back, third in the 200 IM, third in 200 free, third in 50 fly.

* Elizabeth Huck (girls 13-14), sixth in 50 free, ninth in 200 free, 11th in 100 free.

* Cailin McGinnis (girls 13-14), 11th in 200 breaststroke, 11th in 200 fly, 11th in 400 IM, 12th in 100 breaststroke, 12th in 100 fly, 14th in 200 IM.

* Greg Gibson (boys 13-14), third in 200 backstroke, fifth in 100 free, fifth in 100 back, fifth in 200 IM, eighth in 100 fly, ninth in 200 free, ninth in 50 free.

* Emily Younghouse (girls 15 and older), 14th in 500 free, 17th in 200 fly.

* Dustin Kaminskey (boys 15 and older), 10th in 100 fly, 12th in 100 back.

The team, coached by Larry McGinnis, also had seven swimmers on the Ozark All-Star team compete at a meet in Lawrence, Kan., in January. That group consisted of Ryan Gibson, Dylan Blumenthal, Dustin Kominskey, Greg Gibson, Joseph Gray, Matthew Gibson and Connor McGinnis.