Swim team opens season next weekend

The numbers are low for the Tippecanoe swim team this winter, but expectations are the same as they always are for the Red Devils swim season. They want to compete for a league title and get some swimmers to Canton for the state meet.

Only 16 swimmers make up the Tipp roster this winter, and that’s combined boys and girls. But the new Red Devils coach is optimistic about what lies ahead for the team this winter.

“This year we are a very young team and small in numbers…we are tiny but mighty,” said first-year varsity head coach Christine Bathgate. “I am looking forward to their successes; we have several swimmers who have been competing year round.”

“I do believe we will compete very well at the sectional and district level this year and will have some strong relays in both the girls and the boys with our returning swimmers and upcoming freshmen.”

For the boys squad, Bathgate expects Liam Dunkle to be one of the key swimmers this year as he qualified in both the 200 Free and 100 Fly for the districts.

Another swimmer who returns to make waves will be Ridney Brenner, a sophomore who is a returning district swimmer last year in the 100 Fly. 

“He is also looking to compete at a higher level at the Coaches Classic, one of the largest swim meets of the year,” Bathgate said, expecting him to compete in the 50 Fly.

A third swimmer for the boys squad to watch will be freshman Jaxen Anderson, one of six overall freshmen on the roster.

“He has been swimming for his whole life, and he is a phenomenal butterfly swimmer and swims year around and I look forward to what he brings to the team and make our relays be even stronger.”

She also mentioned sophomore Julius Galbert who returns this season and freshman Layton McMurry both expected to compete this season.

For the girls, it all starts with senior Avery Anderson, who is no stranger to the state meet, having qualified as a sophomore in the 200 Free Relay and an alternate in the 500 Free, while as a junior she qualified in both the 200 and 500 Free.

“She has been swimming since she was like five years old and is our captain for the year,” Bathgate said, stating Anderson has been a good leader for the younger swimmers already this winter. “She is a great role model.”

“I think she is looking to repeat those two events and is also good in backstroke as well.”

Bathgate also mentioned key juniors to watch this season: Brynn Buehler, Adelyn Deppen and Emily Vore are all being counted on as key leaders for the team.
“They are three of our juniors and started swimming club this year to increase their talent and become faster and stronger,” she said. “They have come into the season already having more practices under them.”

Bathgate is also very involved in the local summer swim program and hopes to bring in more swimmers in future years to help increase the numbers for the Red Devils.

Other swimmers on the roster include Linneyah Channel, Gabe Esterkamp, Audrey Jackson, Abby Peterson, Izzy Poffenberger, Violet Ramsey and Jocelyn Shelton.