It was an outstanding effort on the diving board for junior Logan Whitacre that got the Bellmont Braves off on the right foot and on their way to an impressive victory over local powerhouse Jay County Tuesday night.
Whitacre set a new person-best mark on his dives and continues to build momentum toward defending his back-to-back conference titles at the upcoming conference meet.
Ben Goble’s win in the 100 Free and runner-up finish in the 200 were also keys to victory for Coach Norby’s boys.
The Braves will return to the home waters to take on South Adams in a county rivalry Tuesday.
In the girls’ meet, the only victory for the Braves also came on the diving board, as Braelyn Radecki took first place over two Jay County competitors.
Boys’ Meet
Team Score: Bellmont 92 Jay County 87
1M Diving
1. Logan Whitacre-B 261.00
-Logan had a career-best performance on the board for his first meet of 2026, topping his previous best by over 20 points.
2. Bryden Carter-JC 140.30
200 Medley Relay
1. Jay County 1:51.33
2. Bellmont 1:52.14
Werling-Krull-Roop-Whitacre
3. Bellmont 2:04.17
Juengel-OGoble-Garcia-Short
200 Free
1. Grady Warvel-JC 1:59.30
2. Ben Goble-B 2:05.51
3. Emmett Rumschlag-B 2:15.44
4. Samson Owens-B 2:15.80
200 IM
1. Carson Westergerdes-JC 2:15.55
2. Hudson Krull-B 2:18.45
3. Oliver Werling-B 2:29.68
4. Oliver Goble-B 2:36.96
50 Free
1. Peyton Yowell-JC 25.35
2. Logan Whitacre-B 25.55
4. Owen Garcia-B 27.23
6. Gavin Short-B 28.14
100 Fly
1. Cooper Glentzer-JC 58.16
2. Zayne Roop-B 1:03.59
3. Owen Garcia-B 1:03.76
-Roop and Garcia both had season bests to finish in second and third for the Braves.
100 Free
1. Ben Goble-B 55.83
2. Peyton Yowell-JC 56.24
3. Samuel Juengel-B 58.58
5. Colten Gerber-B 1:05.90
500 Free
1. Carson Westgerdes-JC 5:41.75
2. Emmett Rumschlag-B 5:54.23
3. Samson Owens-B 6:03.31
-Samson Owen’s effort in the 500 was his best of the season.
200 Free Relay
1. Bellmont 1:41.01
Werling-BGoble-Whitacre-Krull
2. Jay County 1:48.45
3. Bellmont 1:57.53
Miller-Gerber-Owens-Short
100 Back
1. Cooper Glentzer-JC 1:01.94
2. Zayne Roop-B 1:02.22
3. Samuel Juengel-B 1:10.67
6. Colten Gerber-B 1:28.27
Zayne Roop finished just short in second, but still swam a season best for the Braves.
100 Breast
1. Hudson Krull-B 1:06.19
2. Grady Warvel-JC 1:11.16
3. Oliver Werling-B 1:14.01
6. Hayden Whittenbarger-B 1:44.40
400 Free Relay
1. Jay County 3:40.82
2. Bellmont 3:57.28
Garcia-Juengel-Goble-Roop
4. Bellmont 4:15.75
Rumschlag-Short-Owens-OGoble
Girls’ Meet
Team Score: Jay County 132 Bellmont 46
1M Diving
1. Braelyn Radecki-B 124.30
2. Gillian Keller-JC 115.95
200 Medley Relay
1. Jay County 2:13.93
3. Bellmont 2:27.53
Murray-Post-Werling-McCullough
200 Free
1. Brooklynn Byrum-JC 2:15.84
3. Ella Hockemeyer-JC 2:30.92
4. Noelle Hippensteel-B 2:46.44
6. Sophia Silva-B 3:15.53
200 IM
1. Maria Laux-JC 2:39.67
3. Izabella Werling-B 2:50.01
50 Free
1. Elly Byrum-JC 27.01
4. Sydney Bessesen-B 30.71
5. Tori McCullough-B 31.63
6. Braelyn Radecki-B 31.98
100 Fly
1. Lauren Fisher-JC 1:12.51
4. Izabella Werling-B 1:25.51
100 Free
1. Sophia Hoevel-JC 1:02.45
3. Ella Hockemeyer-B 1:05.40
4. Langley Murray-B 1:14.01
6. Madeline Witte-B 1:17.26
500 Free
1. Maria Laux-JC 6:30.89
3. Sydney Bessesen-B 6:37.71
4. Tori McCullough-B 6:39.68
5. Noelle Hippensteel-B 7:21.67
-Sydney Bessesen and Tori McCullough both swam season bests for the Bellmont Braves.
200 Free Relay
1. Jay County 1:57.51
2. Bellmont 2:04.95
Witte-Radecki-Bessesen-Hockemeyer
4. Bellmont 2:27.55
Post-Silva-Krull-Hippensteel
100 Back
1. Avery Wentz-JC 1:15.58
4. Langley Murray-B 1:26.83
100 Breast
1. Elly Byrum-JC 1:21.10
3. Madeline Witte-B 1:29.77
5. Chloe Post-B 1:47.19
6. Sophia Silva-B 1:51.55
-Freshman Madeline Witte was third with a career best and the best on the team this season in the breaststroke.
400 Free Relay
1. Jay County 4:19.47
2. Bellmont 4:34.62
Werling-McCullough-Bessesen-Hockemeyer
4. Bellmont 5:13.26
Hippensteel-Witte-Radecki-Murray
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