Brandon’s varsity girls swimming team came out on the short end of a hard-fought meet against the combined Swartz Creek/Flushing team.
The Blackhawks gave it a valiant effort before losing a 96-90 matchup Oct. 18 at Brandon.
Swartz Creek/Flushing came out of the game winning the first two events, the 200 yard medley relay and the 200 yard freestyle, to take an early 19-11 lead.
However, the Blackhawks came back in the 200 yard IM, as Stephenie Peck took first (2:45.16), Allie Sowa third (2:52.38) and Tara Bartle fourth (2:58.95) putting Brandon within two points, 24-22.
Brandon then took command of the meet in the 50 yard freestyle, as Christina Hart finished first (29.08), Shannon Penix third (30.14) and Kaitlin Grost fourth (30.22). The Blackhawks took a 33-29 lead after that event.
The two teams would trade the lead again, as Swartz Creek/Flushing won the diving competition, with Brandon coming back to win the 100 yard butterfly and 100 yard freestyle to take a 60-50 lead.
In the 100 yard butterfly, Peck won first place (1:14.27), Sowa second (1:20.7) and Stacy Provo fifth (1:28.52), while in the 100 yard freestyle, Hart took first (1:04.22), Penix third (1:05.62) and Grost fourth (1:06.22).
Swartz Creek/Flushing came roaring back, winning first place in the 500 yard freestyle, 200 yard freestyle relay and 100 yard backstroke to take a 83-73 lead.
Brandon would come back to tie the meet in the 100 yard breaststroke, with Bartle (1:26.89), Jessica Swineford (1:28.15) and Lauren McKone (1:28.32) taking the first three places in that event as the Blackhawks tied Swartz Creek/Flushing at 86.
However, Swartz Creek/Flushing would clinch the matchup in the 400 yard freestyle relay, winning first and third places in that event. The Swartz Creek/Flushing team of Nicole Boyer, Mallory Root, Jennie Plamondon and Kara Kerlin (4:12.36) defeated the Brandon team of Sowa, Penix, Kelly Kennedy and Hart (4:23.30) to win the relay.