WARSAW – For both the Goshen and Warsaw swim programs, tremendous strides were made Saturday in the boys and girls swim duals. Warsaw claimed team wins in both contests, 102-84 in the girls race and 123-63 in the boys race. A record even fell at a time of year when school records usually don’t get posted.

Brenna Morgan continued to assert herself as one of the premier freestylers in the area, let alone the state, with an incredible swim in the 200 free. Taking a huge lead early in the race, Morgan found herself swimming against the clock. Bearing down on the final 25 yards, aware teammates and coaches urged Morgan along to a 1:55.15 finish, breaking the Warsaw record of 1:55.81 set by Melissa Herdnon back in 1983.

Morgan is also holder of the 50 (24.01) and 100 freestyle (51.64) records at Warsaw.

Saturday, Morgan grabbed the 100 free win (56.72) and helped the 200 and medley relays to wins. Lauren Kuhl, Delaney Wihebrink, Morgan and Olivia Herman posted a 1:56.66 in the medley and Kuhl, Herman, Morgan and Laurel Moeller swam to victory in the 200 at 1:46.28.

Herman added a win in the 50 at 26.21, Wihebrink had a winning and personal-best 1:06.42 in the backstroke and the team of Moeller, Wihebrink, Allison Thompson and Maddie Ray concluded the girls win with a 4:14.78 in the 400 free relay. Stephanie Bailey added a diving win for the Lady Tigers, posting a 142.40.

“I just talked to Brenna this morning, that last year at this time we were a lot more timid, especially with our newer swimmers,” started Warsaw head coach Tony DeBrota. “This year, we are leaning on “team”. We are just trying to push through that wall of tired, of excuses, and you are starting to see that come through in instances like Brenna’s record, or Delaney’s PR. Even some of the second and third tier swimmers. We are seeing our leaders hold everyone accountable. Love to see it.”

Emma Hussey and Jenea Born posted two wins apiece for Goshen. Hussey claimed the individual medley (2:20.60) and 500 (5:47.32) while Born went 1:04.40 in the butterfly and 1:17.52 in the breaststroke, holding off Warsaw’s Bridgette Yoder by about one stroke’s length.

Warsaw’s boys went about it’s business as usual, claiming all 11 swim wins.

Ethan Cook, Matt Wildman and Zach Taylor all had four-win days for the Tigers, while Adam Doyle, Alex Cook and Hudson Snyder were all multiple event winners.

Wildman claimed the 100 (51.69) and breaststroke (1:04.43), Ethan Cook the 50 (22.76) and 500 (5:02.54) and Taylor the fly (57.65) and backstroke (59.87). Snyder was tops in the IM (2:09.54) and Doyle the 200 (1:56.77).

The pairing of Taylor, Wildman and the Cook brothers won the medley relay (1:44.43) while the Cook brothers, Wildman and Doyle took the 200 relay (1:34.01) and Taylor, Doyle, Snyder and Evan Borchers grabbed the 400 relay at 3:34.72 to complete the pool sweep.

Goshen diver Hudson Kay continued his strong senior season with a dive set scoring 288.20, well ahead of Warsaw runner-up Tyler Paseka’s 213.30.

“I think the upperclassmen are bringing the younger guys along, and the younger guys are starting to respond to it,” DeBrota said. “You’re seeing some of those guys who didn’t have a lot of responsibility last year step up and get that confidence. We’re seeing some depth develop, and that can only help in so many ways with us.”

The meet Saturday marked the return of former Warsaw head coach and alum Nate Long, who coached the program prior to DeBrota three seasons ago. Long, in his second year at the helm for Goshen, still adorns the record wall at Warsaw in the 400 free relay. But with his Goshen polo on, felt the day was intended for just business.

“It’s always tough to coach against kids you coached, but, you know, they’ve got a new coach and I’m coaching somewhere else,” Long said. “I was trying to get as many hugs as I could through the line. And they’re still swimming fast, so that’s good.”

Warsaw’s boys (5-1, 4-1 NLC) and girls (4-2, 3-2 NLC) will welcome in Plymouth Tuesday for another NLC meet and then prepare for the Zionsville Invite next Saturday. Goshen drops to 1-3 for both clubs and will visit Elkhart Central Thursday evening.