(Lander, WY) – Through six weeks of the 2021-2022 swimming and diving season, only one opponent has proven capable of slowing down the Lander Tigers: Wyoming roads.
Four competitions have been canceled due to inclement weather and closed highways, including yesterday’s scheduled trip to Big Piney for a triangular with Sublette County and Kemmerer. LVHS will try for a tri with Kelly Walsh and Cheyenne Central today at 4:00 in Casper, then trek north for the annual Gene Dozah Invite in Powell on Saturday beginning at 10:00 AM.
When the Tigers have been able to compete, the results have been impressive. Lander has already qualified 21 athletes for the state meet.
“We are halfway through the season but swimming times faster than at the end of last season,” explains head coach Shawna Morgan. “We have lots of talent on this team, but what’s more impressive is the boys’ work ethic and overall determination to get better every week.”
LVHS took the Lander Quad on December 17, outdistancing Sublette County, Cody and Douglas. The following day, the team traveled to Sweetwater County and captured the team title at the Green River Invite.
The host Tigers placed first in 10 of 12 event to outscore a competitive field and win the Lander Pre-Christmas Invite on December 21, the team’s last competition of 2021.
The 25-time defending 3A state champs tallied 388 points, 42 ahead of 4A powerhouse Laramie. A strong Buffalo squad finished third, followed by Riverton and Rawlins.
A quartet of returning All-Americans — seniors Brennen Blackburn, Jonny Kulow and Nolan McFadden, along with junior Dylan Huelskamp — led off with a convincing victory in the 200 medley relay.
Junior Brayden Brown followed with a win in the 200 freestyle, and Blackburn touched first in the 200 IM and 100 free. Brown, Huelskamp and McFadden teamed with sophomore Benny Kulow to win the 200 free relay.
Jonny Kulow took top honors in the shortest and longest swims of the day at the Bruce Gresly Aquatics Center, winning both the 50 and 500 yard freestyles. The 100 breastroke went to Huelskamp, and Nolan McFadden was the best of the 100 yard backstrokers, an event he won a season ago at the 3A state meet.
Blackburn, Brown and the Kulow brothers closed out the dual with a victory in the 400 free relay.
The Tigers added two state qualifiers on the day — junior Joel Bever and freshman Dylan Blunck. Both divers punched their tickets to the 3A championship meet, which will be held in Gillette on Feb. 17-18.
The above information and below results were provided by Lander Swimming & Diving.
Lander Quad @ Lander, WY – Dec. 17, 2021
TEAM SCORES: 1. Lander 282, Sublette County 244, Cody 224, Douglas 183
200 Yard Medley Relay: 1. LANDER A (Nolan McFadden, Reed McFadden, Brayden Brown, Jonny Kulow) 1:43.22; 2. Lander B (Erick Harms, Ross Anderson, Finn Richards, Justin Whelan) 1:56.39; 3. Lander C (Sequeil Lozier, Jackson Washburn, Colby Blackburn, Shane Cunningham) 2:05.91
200 Yard Free: 1. Jonny Kulow 1:46.34*; 2. Brennen Blackburn 1:53.18*; 5. Reed McFadden 2:04.90*; 7. Erick Harms 2:09.61*; 8. Caleb Else 2:13.28; 10. Sequeil Lozier 2:28.52; 11. Jackson Washburn 2:32.35
200 Yard IM: 1. Brayden Brown 2:10.46*; 4. Justin Whelan 2:32.89; 5. Shane Cunningham 2:41.81
50 Yard Free: 1. Dylan Huelskamp 22.70*; 2. Benny Kulow 23.53*; 3. Scott Logan 24.86*; 4. Finn Richards 25.10*; 5. Hezekiah Dolence 25.39*; 7. Colby Blackburn 25.58*; 8. Elijah Applegate 26.63; 14. Mason Wietzki 32.79; 15. Sam Rogers 32.91
1 Meter Diving: 1. Noah Larson 214.55*; 3. Gage Hampton 164.55*; 4. Logan Wietzki 164.05*; 5. Dylan Blunck 146.00; 6. Luke Morneau 117.80
100 Yard Butterfly: 2. Ross Anderson 1:07.54*; 3. Erick Harms 1:10.69*; 6. Justin Whelan 1:23.51
100 Yard Free: 1. Benny Kulow 50.97*; 3. Hezekiah Dolence 57.34*; 4. Caleb Else 57.88*; 5. Noah Larson 58.28*; 6. Shane Cunningham 1:01.35; 9. Dylan Blunck 1:08.09
500 Yard Free: 1. Dylan Huelskamp 5:16.84*; 2. Finn Richards 5:31.29*; 3. Nolan McFadden 5:39.83*; 5. Colby Blackburn 5:51.24*; 8. Mason Wietzki 7:33.44
200 Yard Free Relay: 1. LANDER A (Dylan Huelskamp, Brennen Blackburn, Benny Kulow, Nolan McFadden) 1:33.73; 3. LANDER B (Justin Whelan, Scott Logan, Reed McFadden, Elijah Applegate) 1:42.06; 5. LANDER C (Noah Larson, Jackson Washburn, Mason Wietzki, Sam Rogers) 2:02.49
100 Yard Back: 1. Brayden Brown 58.19*; 2. Scott Logan 1:04.46*; 3. Reed McFadden 1:05.02*; 4. Ross Anderson 1:05.71*; 7. Elijah Applegate 1:09.17; 8. Sequeil Lozier 1:10.80
100 Yard Breast: 1. Jonny Kulow 1:01.22*; 2. Nolan McFadden 1:09.11*; 4. Brennen Blackburn 1:13.42*; 10. Logan Wietzki 1:27.43; 11. Jackson Washburn 1:27.67
400 Yard Free Relay: 1. LANDER A (Brennen Blackburn, Dylan Huelskamp, Jonny Kulow, Benny Kulow) 3:27.04; 3. LANDER B (Elijah Applegate, Scott Logan, Erick Harms, Ross Anderson) 3:53.92; 5. LANDER C (Finn Richards, Sequeil Lozier, Colby Blackburn, Shane Cunningham) 4:03.89
* 3A state qualifying time/score
Green River Invite @ Green River, WY – Dec. 18, 2021
TEAM SCORES: 1. Lander 395, 2. Laramie 328, Green River 135, Rock Springs 116, Lyman 113, Rawlins 97, Evanston 94, Kemmerer 57
200 Yard Medley Relay: 1. LANDER A (Brayden Brown, Reed McFadden, Benny Kulow, Jonny Kulow) 1:41.69; 3. LANDER B (Erick Harms, Ross Anderson, Finn Richards, Hezekiah Dolence) 1:52.49; 13. LANDER C (Sequeil Lozier, Jackson Washburn, Colby Blackburn, Shane Cunningham) 2:09.46; 17. LANDER D (Luke Morneau, Logan Wietzki, Noah Larson, Dylan Blunck) 2:19.73
200 Yard Free: 1. Dylan Huelskamp 1:51.38*; 2. Brayden Brown 1:52.86*; 9. Finn Richards 2:00.51*; Elijah Applegate 2:07.07*
200 Yard IM: 1. Jonny Kulow 1:57.26* — POOL RECORD; 2. Benny Kulow 2:05.16*; 11. Scott Logan 2:25.73*; 14. Hezekiah Dolence 2:29.96*
50 Yard Free: 1. Nolan McFadden 22.58*; 2. Brennen Blackburn 22.69*; 6. Erick Harms 24.60*; 12. Sequeil Lozier 27.06; 16. Shane Cunningham 27.71; 30. Sam Rogers 30.81; Mason Wietzki 33.53
1 Meter Diving: 7. Noah Larson 173.15*; 10. Gage Hampton 162.90*; 11 Logan Wietzki 162.70*; 13. Joel Bever 144.20; 16. Luke Morneau 123.00; 17. Dylan Blunck 122.05
100 Yard Butterfly: 2. Brennen Blackburn 54.28*; 3. Reed McFadden 59.61*; 9. Finn Richards 1:05.15*; 12. Colby Blackburn 1:07.14*;
100 Yard Free: 1. Nolan McFadden 50.04*; 2. Dylan Huelskamp 50.61*; 14. Shane Cunningham 1:02.25; 27. Jackson Washburn 1:08.10; 35. Mason Wietzki 1:14.25
500 Yard Free: 2. Brayden Brown 5:04.63*; 5. Ross Anderson 5:42.31*; 8. Elijah Applegate 5:51.50*; 9. Hezekiah Dolence 6:08.55*
200 Yard Free Relay: 1. LANDER A (Dylan Huelskamp, Brennen Blackburn, Benny Kulow, Nolan McFadden) 1:30.79 — POOL RECORD; 4. LANDER B (Hezekiah Dolence, Scott Logan, Reed McFadden, Elijah Applegate) 1:42.70; 12. LANDER C (Noah Larson, Jackson Washburn, Mason Wietzki, Sam Rogers) 2:01.62
100 Yard Back: 1. Jonny Kulow 53.08*; 4. Erick Harms 1:01.96*; 6. Colby Blackburn 1:02.63*; 9. Noah Larson 1:06.98*; 15. Sequeil Lozier 1:12.38
100 Yard Breast: 1. Benny Kulow 1:03.77*; 2. Reed McFadden 1:05.41*; 4. Ross Anderson 1:07.86*; 6. Scott Logan 1:11.21*; 13. Jackson Washburn 1:27.64; 14. Logan Wietzki 1:27.99
400 Yard Free Relay: 1. LANDER A (Brennen Blackburn, Dylan Huelskamp, Jonny Kulow, Nolan McFadden) 3:15.39 — POOL RECORD; 5. LANDER B (Elijah Applegate, Scott Logan, Erick Harms, Ross Anderson) 3:48.61; 11. LANDER C (Finn Richards, Sequeil Lozier, Colby Blackburn, Shane Cunningham) 4:03.70
* 3A state qualifying time/score
Lander Pre-Christmas Invite @ Lander, WY – Dec. 21, 2021
TEAM SCORES: 1. Lander 388, 2. Laramie 346, 3. Buffalo 225, 4. Riverton 139, 5. Rawlins 79
200 Yard Medley Relay: 1. LANDER A (Brennen Blackburn, Dylan Huelskamp, Jonny Kulow, Nolan McFadden) 1:39.59; 4. LANDER B (Hezekiah Dolence, Ross Anderson, Reed McFadden, Justin Whelan) 1:51.15; 8. LANDER C (Sequeil Lozier, Jackson Washburn, Colby Blackburn, Shane Cunningham) 2:07.74
200 Yard Free: 1. Brayden Brown 1:52.71*; 2. Benny Kulow 1:54.01*; 7. Hezekiah Dolence 2:11.50*; 14. Mason Wietzki 2:47.90
200 Yard IM: 1. Brennen Blackburn 2:08.57*; 2. Reed McFadden 2:15.00*; 7. Colby Blackburn 2:25.38*; 8. Elijah Applegate 2:27.54*; 9. Sequeil Lozier 2:44.01
50 Yard Free: 1. Jonny Kulow 21.35*; 10. Ross Anderson 25.35*; 11. Justin Whelan 25.83; 16. Shane Cunningham 28.56
1 Meter Diving: 5. Noah Larson 189.40*; 6. Joel Bever 168.75*; 7. Dylan Blunck 165.75*
100 Yard Butterfly: 2. Dylan Huelskamp 55.50*; 4. Benny Kulow 59.57*; 9. Elijah Applegate 1:08.70*; 10. Hezekiah Dolence 1:10.17*
100 Yard Free: 1. Brennen Blackburn 49.22*; 3. Nolan McFadden 50.85*; 9. Scott Logan 56.04*; 11. Reed McFadden 56.71*; 18. Sequeil Lozier 1:03.92
500 Yard Free: 1. Jonny Kulow 4:57.94*; 7. Justin Whelan 6:02.67*; 9. Shane Cunningham 6:35.83; 12. Jackson Washburn 7:07.12
200 Yard Free Relay: 1. LANDER A (Brayden Brown, Benny Kulow, Nolan McFadden, Dylan Huelskamp) 1:33.64; 5. LANDER B (Reed McFadden, Scott Logan, Hezekiah Dolence, Justin Whelan) 1:42.94; 9. LANDER C (Elijah Applegate, Shane Cunningham, Sequeil Lozier, Mason Wietzki) 1:55.98
100 Yard Back: 1. Nolan McFadden 58.88*; 2. Brayden Brown 59.09*; 7. Scott Logan 1:05.85*; 8. Noah Larson 1:06.45*; 16. Mason Wietzki 1:33.91
100 Yard Breast: 1. Dylan Huelskamp 1:03.77*; 3. Ross Anderson 1:08.11*; 11. Colby Blackburn 1:22.17; 15. Jackson Washburn 1:29.51; 18. Dylan Blunck 1:34.08
400 Yard Free Relay: 1. LANDER A (Brennen Blackburn, Brayden Brown, Benny Kulow, Jonny Kulow) 3:20.36; 5. LANDER B (Ross Anderson, Elijah Applegate, Noah Larson, Scott Logan) 3:50.05; 7. LANDER C (Jackson Washburn, Colby Blackburn, Dylan Blunck, Mason Wietzki) 4:35.28
* 3A state qualifying time/score