A swim meet at the beginning of the new year saw Gilmer High School arrive a bit shorthanded.
GHS attended the Spear and Shield Meet at River Ridge High School last Saturday. Gilmer was without half of its swimmers, according to coach Mary-Melissa May.
The Bobcats and Lady Cats combined for 11 placements that were high enough to score team points. They occurred in both relay and individual events and all were in the freestyle category.
Larz Fowler was Gilmer’s top individual swimmer on the day. He secured fifth place in the 100-yard freestyle in 1:02.04. He also took ninth in the 50 free at 26.26.
Bobcat teammate Cole Ellis finished ninth in the 100 free (1:05.59) and was 10th in the 50 (27.38).
Lady Cat Lyra May claimed 11th in the 100 free (1:23.60) and teammate Sierra Ellis finished 12th (1:24.91). Kaitlyn Grice placed 18th in the 50 free (35.10) and Ellis was 23rd (35.60).
In freestyle relay events, Lady Cats Emma Schramm, May, Anna Byrd and Grice placed sixth in the 200 (2:23.06).
The GHS quartet of Caroline Ott, Ellis, Cadence Mohon and Grice finished ninth in the 400 (6:02.22).
Bobcats Ellis, Ty Cox, Jacob Kucera and Fowler were the seventh-place team in the boys 200 free relay at 2:01.21.