Florence Lin’23, Charlotte Baker’24, Lauren Prall’24. (Julia DeVore’22/Staff)
The Columbus Academy girls swimming team looked to continue its winning streak with three big meets on Tuesday, January 19, Friday, January 22, and Saturday, January 23.
The Aquavikes started off the week with a bang, securing a victory over Bishop Hartley, Ohio Ready, and Wellington with a total of 91 points. The squad of Charlotte Baker’24, Lauren Klinefelter’22, Claire Richardson’23, and Emma Yakam’22 secured the Vikes’ first victory, placing first in the 200 medley with a final time of 2:04.07. Alexandra Butnariu’22 followed in the 200 free, nabbing silver with a time of 2:08.18. Klinefelter secured another win in the 100 butterfly, with Mary Kate Prall’22 and Butnariu close behind at third and fourth place, respectively.
Klinefelter dominated again in the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke, steamrolling her opponents to claim another victory. Richardson continued the momentum, netting a gold in the 100 free with a time of 1:01.16, with Yakam just 0.74 seconds behind.
Butnariu, Rene Fleege’24, Ella Lowrie’24, and Prall conquered in the 200 free, clocking in at 1:48.67 to finish first. Yakam continued the trend, securing a win in the 100 breaststroke, before the squad of Butnariu, Klinefleter, Prall, and Richardson wrapped up the meet with another victory in the 200 freestyle.
Following the victorious meet, junior Blake Skilken represented Columbus Academy at the first dive meet of the season on Wednesday, January 20. Skilken secured bronze, putting up 235.05 for the Vikings.
The following day, the Aquavikes traveled to the Meeks Aquatic and Recreation Center to face Delaware Hayes High School. Our girls fought hard but ultimately fell 79-86 to the Pacers.
The all junior squad of Butnariu, Klinefelter, Prall, and Yakam finished second in the 200 medley, clocking in at 1:56.06. Richardson nabbed a silver in the 200 free, while Butnariu continued the trend with another second-place in the 100 free. Prall netted the Vikings’ first victory of the meet in the 200 IM, before Klinefelter secured gold in the 500 free and 100 backstroke.
Fleege, Lowrie, Richardson, and Yakam dominated in the 200 free, beating their closest opponents by 6.26 seconds with a final time of 1:50.04. Butnariu, Fleege, Klinefelter, and Prall continued the momentum, nabbing gold in the 400 free. Butnariu brought it home in the 100 free, securing a second place finish just .27 seconds before Prall.
Following the loss, the Aquavikes bounced back with a 93-77 victory against Pickerington North on Saturday, January 23.
Butnariu, Klinefelter, Prall, and Yakam conquered in the 200 medley with a first place finish, clocking in at 1:56.94. Lowrie followed with a victory in the 200 free, before Klinefelter netted a gold in the 200 IM. Butnariu continued the winning streak, securing first in both the 50 and 500 freestyles before Prall nabbed a win in the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke.
The squad of Butnariu, Klinefelter, Prall, and Richardson dominated in the 200 free, finishing with a final time of 1:46.39. Yakam wrapped up the week with a victory in the 100 breaststroke, with Baker close behind at second place.
The Vikings will host DeSales on Tuesday, January 26 to celebrate the Aquavikes’ seniors, before traveling to CSG on Friday, January 29, for the MSL Championship.
