The 108-78 win by the Dutch improves their overall record to 9-0 with one dual meet remaining. The Lady Dutch put forth a good effort but fell to the Lady Bisons by a 104-82 margin. Their record now stands at 6-3 but a winning season is most certainly within their grasp for the first time in several years.

The most exciting triumphs weren’t even the events that resulted in first place finishes as the Dutch men took nine of 12 events on the evening. But it was the battles for second and third that were key to some personal best times and in turn, also provided a greater margin of victory from their previous meeting with the Bisons in January.

Jeffrey Moore and Matt Hoffman turned in solid, top time performances when they finished 2-3 in the 200 freestyle. It was a dogfight in the last 25 yards when Moore came from behind and almost out touched Clearfield’s Connor Shirey, missing first place by .05 seconds. Hoffman finished third, 19 seconds ahead of the closest Clearfield competitor. Midway through the meet, Moore took on Clearfield’s Alex Fisher in the 500 freestyle and closed a significant early lead by Fisher to come within ? second of winning the event.

“We are extremely pleased by the performances of some of our depth swimmers. They are getting a good feel for racing strategy plus they are getting stronger and faster,” said Coach Mark DeMuro. “Tonight was a real good test for them for post-season championships.”

Individual leaders on the evening were Michael Proudfit in the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke; Andrew Cotter in the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly; Seth Dippold in the 100 freestyle and 100 backstroke and Justin Huey in 1 meter diving. Both the 200 relays (free and relay) were also victorious and consisted of Alex Anderson, Cotter, Dippold and Proudfit.

For the Lady Dutch, Steph Buerk led the way with two individual wins in the 200 and 500 freestyle. Melinda Stebich and Kylee Proudfit had nice efforts for the team, taking first and second in the 100 breaststroke. The 400 freestyle relay of Saige Leidwinger, Megan Barber, Brittany Orr and Buerk also took first and improved upon their relay best time in the process.

“We had an injury during warm-ups that prevented Sami (Ferragine) from competing tonight which caused us to rearrange events and relays at the last minute. We missed her during the meet but the other girls stepped up and we are proud of their efforts,” added Coach DeMuro. “It was nice to have Megan Barber back in the lineup to help us out in the clutch.”

Other personal best times were recorded by Michael Stebich and Scott Barber in the 200 IM, Megan Barber in the 50 freestyle, David Sheeley in the 50 and 100 freestyles, Maura Keyes in the 100 butterfly, Alex Renwick in the 100 butterfly and 500 freestyle, Saige Leidwinger in the 100 freestyle, Shannon Krieg in the 500 freestyle and Matt Hoffman in the 100 breaststroke.

Gideon Woelfel made his diving debut for the Dutch going against some stiff Clearfield competition. “Gideon is a nice addition to our diving team and he did well tonight for his first time,” commented Coach Eric Wonderling.

Both squads will be back in action this Thursday, February 18 at the SMAHS Natatorium. It will be the last regular meet of the year and will also be Senior Night. The Dutch and Lady Dutch will host DuBois and the meet starts at 6 p.m.

Lady Dutch 82-104

200 medley relay – second (Orr, Stebich, Proudfit, Barber); third (Michaela Rupprecht, Jocelyn Marzella, Kristen DeLullo, Keyes).

200 freestyle – first Buerk, third DeLullo, sixth Anna Prechtl.

200 IM – second Stebich, third Proudfit.

50 freestyle – third Barber, fourth Leidwinger.

1 meter diving – third Maria Holm, fifth Krieg.

100 butterfly – second Rupprecht, fourth Keyes.

100 freestyle – third Orr, fourth Leidwinger, sixth Prechtl.

500 freestyle – first Buerk, third DeLullo, sixth Krieg.

200 freestyle relay – second (Barber, Proudfit, Leidwinger, Buerk), third (Marzella, Stebich, Rupprecht, Krieg).

100 backstroke – second Orr, fourth Rupprecht, sixth Keyes.

100 breaststroke – first Stebich, second Proudfit, fourth Marzella.

400 freestyle relay – first (Leidwinger, Barber, Orr, Buerk).

Dutch 108-78

200 medley relay – first (Dippold, Proudfit, Cotter, Anderson), third (Stebich, Hoffman, Renwick, Sheeley).

200 freestyle – second Moore, third Hoffman, sixth Jake Burns.

200 IM – first Proudfit, third Stebich, fifth Barber.

50 freestyle – first Cotter, third Anderson, fourth Sheeley.

1 meter diving – first Huey, fourth Burns, sixth Woelfel.

100 butterfly – first Cotter, third Renwick, fifth Kopp.

100 freestyle – first Dippold, third Ryan Struble, fourth Sheeley.

500 freestyle – second Moore, fourth Renwick, sixth Brad Kopp.

200 freestyle relay – first (Cotter, Proudfit, Anderson, Dippold), third (Sheeley, Struble, Barber, Moore).

100 backstroke – first Dippold, fourth Stebich, sixth Struble.

100 breaststroke – first Proudfit, third Hoffman, fourth Barber.

400 freestyle relay – second (Anderson, Stebich, Moore, Hoffman), third (Woelfel, Renwick, Barber, Struble).