Brandon’s varsity boys swimming team battled nip-and-tuck with Swartz Creek-Flushing until the bitter end of their Jan. 3 meet.
Nonetheless, the host Blackhawks started off the new year on the right foot with a 94-91 win in their matchup at Brandon High School. The meet saw the two teams trade leads several times before the Blackhawks pulled ahead for good in the sixth event of the 12-event meet, the 100 yard butterfly.
Brandon’s 200 yard medley relay team of Tyler Walls, Tyson DeLandsheer, Brad MacIntyre and Josh Collier started the Blackhawks on the right foot by winning that event in 2:03.4.
Swartz Creek-Flushing then won the 200 yard freestyle to take a brief 16-14 lead, but Brandon pulled back in front 26-20 as DeLandsheer and Kyle Larner finished first and second in the 200 yard individual medley with times of 2:39.30 and 2:41.83, respectively.
Although Swartz Creek-Flushing took 1-2 in the 50-yard freestyle, Brandon held on for a 32-30 lead. However, Swartz Creek-Flushing’s Travis Gordon won the 1-meter diving competition to put them ahead 39-38.
Brad MacIntyre and Aaron Hussong helped the Blackhawks move ahead for good in the 100 yard butterfly, finishing first and third, respectively. MacIntyre finished in 1:11.52 and Hussong 1:23.49 as Brandon took a 47-46 lead.
Although the Blackhawks would stay in front the remainder of the meet, Swartz Creek-Flushing was on their heels the rest of the way.
However, the Blackhawks dominated the 100 yard freestyle, taking the first three places. Tyler Cole (1:00.29), Clayton Carpenter (1:01.60) and Collier (1:02.95) did the honors for the Blackhawks.
Swartz Creek-Flushing then won the 500 yard freestyle before the Blackhawks? 200 yard freestyle relay team of Zach Cotton, Carpenter, Cole and Collier captured that event in 1:48.37, putting the Blackhawks up 75-64.
After Swartz Creek-Flushing’s Matt Omara won the 100 yard backstroke, DeLandsheer captured the 100 yard breaststroke in 1:13.36 for the Blackhawks, putting Brandon up 90-81.
However, Swartz Creek/Flushing won first and third places in the final event of the evening, the 400 yard freestyle relay. Brandon’s team of MacIntyre, Carpenter, Cole and DeLandsheer finished second in 4:10.81 (about two seconds off the lead), giving Brandon just enough points to win the meet.