Five Wildcats to represent Mount Vernon at state finals

Members of the state finalist 200-meter free relay are, left to right, CJ Gentry, Ozzy Jankowski, Camus O’Daniel, and Clayton Green. Photo by Garry Beeson

Special to the news

The Mount Vernon Wildcats boy swimmers had their turn at the Sectionals Saturday after a long awaited front row seat to the girls championship season. And good things come to those who wait.

The boys will be sending three events to the state finals in Indy next Friday. Those include Ozzy Jankowski in the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke. The team of Ozzy Jankowski, Camas O’Daniel, CJ Gentry, Clayton Green will represent Mount Vernon in the state 200 freestyle realy. The 200 Freestyle Relay- Alternates are: Ryan McCollum, Sam Reinitz, and Johnny Bohleber.

Jankowski set two sectional records. The 100 butterfly was a .7 second drop off the time he set Thursday night in preliminaries, and the 100 backstroke Sectional record was the longest standing record at 26 years, set by Olympian Bryce Hunt in 2000. The times replace his own school records as well. The times qualify as All American Consideration times, and the 100 butterfly time qualifies him for the Winter Junior National swim meet.

The boys battled hard, improving all their times from prelims and setting a near perfect lifetime best swim record. The relay showcased the fight in the team, with Ozzy Jankowski securing the early lead, Camas O’Daniel holding the line, CJ Gentry making a pivotal move to made the difference for the victory, and Clayton Green fought off the challenge from ECC as the dependable and trusty anchor. Three of these swimmers will compete at State for the first time next week.

The team of seven individuals finished fourth overall, a testament to their quality and placings.

Finishes include:

200 Medley Relay team- Sectional Runner-up and sixth in the All Time MV Top 16

Ozzy Jankowski, Camas O’Daniel, Johnny Bohleber, Clayton Green

200 Freestyle- Ryan McCollum fourth

200 IM- Camas O’Daniel Sectional Runner Up

50 Free- CJ Gentry eighth, Sam Reinitz 15th

100 Fly- Ozzy Jankowski Sectional Champion, Johnny Bohleber 11th

100 Free- Clayton Green eoghth, CJ Gentry 10th, and Sam Reinitz 14th

500 Free- Ryan McCollum third

200 Free Relay- Sectional Champions, Jankowski, O’Daniel, Gentry, Green

100 Backstroke- Ozzy Jankowski Sectional Champion, Johnny Bohleber ninth

100 Breaststroke- Camas O’Daniel Sectional Runner-Up

400 Freestyle Relay- fourth Sam Reinitz, Ryan McCollum, CJ Gentry, Clayton Green

Individuals may join the team for the State Team send off Friday morning at the pool from 7:30-8. State Finals are at the Natatorium in Indy at 6 pm EST.