(Lander, WY) – Lander won the Bruce Gresly Memorial Invite in convincing fashion, highlighted by an All-American effort from four Tigers.
LVHS tallied 359 points to runner-up Buffalo’s 194. Cheyenne South, Rock Springs and Green River rounded out the top five.
On a day when seniors Ross Anderson, Elijah Applegate, Brennen Blackburn, Ramsey Eckhardt, Jonny Kulow, Nolan McFadden, Luke Morneau, Sonny Robinson and Sam Rogers were recognized, fireworks were provided by the members of Lander’s 200 medley relay squad.
A trio of those seniors teamed with junior Dylan Huelskamp to set a new all-class state record in the first swimming event of the day. McFadden led off in the backstroke, opening up a sizeable lead after 50 meters for Huelskamp, who widened the gap during the breaststroke. Blackburn scorched the butterfly leg, and as Kulow — a U.S. Olympic Trials qualifier — freestyled for home, all eyes were on the scoreboard.
Kulow touched the wall, then pandemonium touched off in the Bruce Gresly Aquatics Center. The clock read 1:32.97. Check out the video here.
The previous record of 1:34.05 was set at the 2019 state championship meet. Jonny Kulow swam on that relay as a freshman, along with juniors Ryan Brinda and Nick Kulow and senior Caleb Huelskamp.
During last year’s Bruce Gresly Memorial Invite, the quartet of Blackburn, Jonny Kulow, McFadden and Dylan Huelskamp broke the 200 freestyle relay state record, then bettered their own mark a month later at the state meet with an All-American time of 1:24.44.
Jonny Kulow took the 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke wins at last Saturday’s Bruce Gresly. Blackburn followed up his relay performance with a victory in the 100 butterfly, as well. McFadden sprinted to first in the 50 free, and Huelskamp won the 200 individual medley.
Brayden Brown touched home first in the 500 free. Lander’s 400 freestyle relay team of Benny Kulow, McFadden, Blackburn and Jonny Kulow closed out the day with a victory for the hosts.
Freshman Shane Cunningham punched his ticket to the state meet with an exciting qualifying swim in the 100 freestyle. LVHS now has 25 athletes qualified for the 3A state championship meet, which will be held in Gillette on Feb. 17-18.
The above article and the following results were provided by Lander Swimming & Diving.
Bruce Gresly Memorial Invite @ Lander, WY
Jan. 22, 2022
TEAM SCORES: 1. Lander 359, 2. Buffalo 194, 3. Cheyenne South 162, 4. Rock Springs 144, 5. Green River 138, 6. Rawlins 98, 7. Riverton 92, 8. Cody 66, 9. Kemmerer 62, 10. Douglas 56
200 Yard Medley Relay: 1. LANDER A (Nolan McFadden, Dylan Huelskamp, Brennen Blackburn, Jonny Kulow) 1:32.97 **AUTOMATIC ALL-AMERICAN TIME **ALL-CLASS STATE RECORD; 3. LANDER B (Brayden Brown, Ross Anderson, Reed McFadden, Finn Richards) 1:47.40; 9. LANDER C (Sequeil Lozier, Jacksen Washburn, Caleb Else, Sonny Robinson); 19. LANDER D (Logan Wietzki, Joel Bever, Gage Hampton, Luke Morneau)
200 Yard Free: 1. Jonny Kulow 1:47.19*; 2. Brayden Brown 1:54.28*; 12. Sequeil Lozier 2:07.14*; 15. Sonny Robinson 2:12.22; 17. Shane Cunningham 2:12.99; 27. Mason Wietzki 2:39.95
200 Yard IM: 1. Dylan Huelskamp 2:05.53*; 4. Finn Richards 2:12.29*; 8. Ross Anderson 2:15.18*; 14. Elijah Applegate 2:25.97*; 21. Jacksen Washburn 2:41.41
50 Yard Free: 1. Nolan McFadden 22.04*; 2. Brennen Blackburn 22.73*; 7. Scott Logan 24.47*; 12. Justin Whelan 25.77*; 13. Caleb Else 25.78*; 28. Sam Rogers 28.84
1 Meter Diving: 5. Logan Wietzki 331.65*; 8. Gage Hampton 287.35*; 11. Joel Bever 239.75; 13. Luke Morneau 228.45
100 Yard Butterfly: 1. Brennen Blackburn 54.36*; 2. Nolan McFadden 55.60*; 8. Benny Kulow 59.30*
100 Yard Free: 2. Dylan Huelskamp 50.15*; 11. Elijah Applegate 56.82*; 12. Sequeil Lozier 57.46*; 13. Shane Cunningham 57.50*; 21. Dylan Blunck 1:05.14; 29. Sam Rogers 1:11.00
500 Yard Free: 1. Brayden Brown 5:12.08*; 5. Justin Whelan 5:45.87*; 7. Reed McFadden 5:48.27*; 12. Caleb Else 6:12.57; 14. Sonny Robinson 6:26.97
200 Yard Free Relay: 2. LANDER A (Benny Kulow, Scott Logan, Finn Richards, Dylan Huelskamp) 1:34.04; 5. LANDER B (Ross Anderson, Justin Whelan, Shane Cunningham, Reed McFadden) 1:41.89; 12. LANDER C (Sam Rogers, Jacksen Washburn, Mason Wietzki, Caleb Else) 1:58.21; 14. LANDER D (Luke Morneau, Logan Wietzki, Dylan Blunck, Gage Hampton) 2:01.68
100 Yard Back: 1. Jonny Kulow 54.00*; 2. Benny Kulow 59.46*; 23. Mason Wietzki 1:23.13
100 Yard Breast: 2. Reed McFadden 1:04.50*; 4. Scott Logan 1:08.66*; 6. Ross Anderson 1:09.21*; 7. Finn Richards 1:09.65*; 18. Jacksen Washburn 1:20.93; 23. Logan Wietzki 1:26.11
400 Yard Free Relay: 1. LANDER A (Benny Kulow, Nolan McFadden, Brennen Blackburn, Jonny Kulow) 3:24.63; 5. LANDER B (Elijah Applegate, Scott Logan, Brayden Brown, Justin Whelan) 3:52.49; LANDER C (Shane Cunningham, Sequeil Lozier, Sonny Robinson, Dylan Blunck) 4:01.93
* 3A state qualifying time/score