The Stratford Spartan swim team had their annual Green vs. Gold meet Tuesday evening at the Spring Branch ISD Natatorium. The friendly competition consisted of 23 events in both swimming and diving. The intra-squad meet is how the Spartans kick off the season every year.

“There were some pleasant surprises from our freshman, and some upperclassmen really stepped up,” coach Michael Hoskovec said.

The first meet was the girls 200-yard medley relay. Green faced Gold in this butterfly, breast stroke, backstroke, and freestyle relay. Gold got first with a time of 1:56.34. The boys swam next in the same relay, and Green took first with a time of 1:45.31.

The 200 freestyle was next. Caroline Eustice (Gold) took first, swimming 2:01.22. Hunter Bayley (Gold) swam 1:56.95, fast enough for first for the men.

In the 200 IM, Jakarta Ayers (Gold) won in 2:22.95, as did Michael Bishop (Green) with a time of 2:11.81.

Girls and boys 50 meter freestyle was next, with three heats. The winners were Erin Pence (Green) in 29.84 seconds, Katherine MacLean (Green) in 25.66, and Rob Chuchla (Green) in 23.73.

One-meter diving was next, giving the swimmers a quick break. Divers included Thomas Mundy, Teddy Aitken, James Gallery, Steven Campbell, and Melissa Wheeler, along with first-place diver Sean Mokhtari (Gold).

The 100 butterfly had three heats giving Casey Barton (Green) (1:16.80), Jakarta Ayers (Gold) (1:02.17), and Rob Chuchla (Green) (1:00.76) victories.

Girls and boys 100 freestyle followed as Lilly Marrow (Gold) swam a 55:53 and Kasey Bishop (Gold) swam a 52:99 for first.

In the 500 freestyle, winners were Caroline Eustice (Gold) in 5:27.52 and Hunter Bayley (Gold) in 4:44.10.

The 200 freestyle relay was next. For the girls, Green won with a time of 1:45.09. Gold boys won with a time of 1:33.00.

Katherine MacLean (Green) took first in the 100 backstroke with a time of 1:05.64 and Michael Bishop (Green) did it in 1:02.09.

Lilly Marrow (Gold) swam a 1:09.23 and Marlon Bishop (Gold) swam a 1:05.62 for first place in the 100 breaststroke.

The final event of the night was the mixed 400 freestyle relay. Green and Gold had 14 swimmers on each end of the pool. Before the buzzer, Hoskovec said, “Winner of the relay doesn’t have practice tomorrow.” But he said it with a smile.

The Spartans face Katy Taylor in their first dual meet Oct. 25.

“We’re definitely going to have to fine tune some things, like starts and turns, before we go into that meet, but we’re really looking forward to it,” Hoskovec said. “Last year, our girls got a victory out of it for the first time since I can remember. And it’s been a while for our guys, but they’re looking forward to the challenge."

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