SYRACUSE — It was a great night of individual performances for both the Wawasee girls and boys swim teams. 12 lifetime bests were earned between the boys and girls teams, but a lack of depth cost the Warriors against Concord. The visiting Minutemen won the girls meet 117-68 and the boys meet 109-77.

“We just don’t have the numbers this year with the girls,” explained Wawasee head coach Julie Robinson. “We’ve had injuries with our girls or, for one reason or another, people not swimming. So, we’re just shallow this year.”

While the boys team does not suffer from the exact same lack of numbers, Concord still proved to be deeper than Wawasee. With Concord being a strong team once again this season, the goal was to focus on the individual times for both of Robinson’s teams.

“We had so many lifetime bests today,” Robinson said. “The whole thing coming into this meet, with Concord being such a strong team, was just about coming out and racing your race and getting your best time. Alyssa (Koch) was right at her lifetime best, Ella (Park) had lifetime bests in each of her swims. Paige (Miller) had a great race in the 100 free. It was all about, today, seeing what you were capable of doing.

“It was about times for the boys as well. We were focused on what we could do individually and just going out and attacking it. I think the kids did that. Jared (Krugman) had really nice swims, Brady (Robinson) had a lifetime best. We really, right now, have so many kids that are stepping up and swimming well.”

Concord’s boys team swept the relays to show its depth. In the 200 medley relay the Minutemen took first (1:47.39) and second (1:52.31) while Wawasee was third at 1:58.81. Concord won the 200 free relay with a time of 1:35.59 while Wawasee took second at 1:37.84. The Warriors held a lead in the 400 free relay but a fantastic third leg from Concord’s Kallaghan Findley put the Minutemen over the top with a first place time of 3:27.83. Wawasee was second with its time of 3:31.24.

Despite losing the relays, the Warriors still showed their young strength by winning five of the eight individual swimming events.

Jared Krugman and Brady Robinson each enjoyed double wins on the evening. Krugman swam a lifetime best in the 200 free (1:52.37) to help earn first and later won the 500 free with a time of 5:04.08. Robinson enjoyed a lifetime best in the 100 breast (1:01.87) and had the top time in the 200 IM as well at 1:58.10.

Jake Cowan raced to first in the 100 fly with a 58.64, edging out Concord’s Sam Lower (59.39). Other boys meet highlights for Wawasee included lifetimes bests from Collin Thomas in both the 100 free (59.48) and 50 free (27.62), Alex Mathew in both the 100 fly (1:12.40) and 100 back (1:13.74) and from Bryce Knepp in the 100 free (1:00.96).

In the boys diving competition Concord’s Austin Leas won with a final score of 231.45. Wawasee’s Austin Dunithan and Brady Claassen took second and third with respective scores of 179.60 and 161.45. Coming in fourth with a lifetime best score of 143.45 was Wawasee’s Dane Jenkins.

In the girls meet Wawasee was able to take the 400 relay with its team of Ella Park, Alyssa Koch, Shelby Adams and Paige Miller. The team swam a 3:52.37, edging out Concord’s 3:53.01 as Miller came from behind to pass Maddisen Lantz on the final leg. Concord took the top two spots in the 200 medley relay with times of 2:00.61 and 2:06.61, respectively. Wawasee was third at 2:16.59. The Minutemen also won the 200 free relay with a time of 1:45.28 while Wawasee settled for second at 1:48.35.

Park swam two lifetime bests for Wawasee, first in the 200 free (2:08.16) and later in the 500 free (5:38.10). The freshman took fourth in the 200 and was first in the 500. Adams won the 100 breast for Wawasee with a time of 1:13.70. Miller was the lone double winner for the girls as she won both the 200 IM (2:14.36) and 100 free (54.63).

Lifetime bests for the girls included Macie Stuckman in the 200 IM (2:48.58), Ryane Beaman in the 200 free (2:23.14), Sailor Davis in the 100 back (1:17.31) and Alexis Bellamy in the 100 fly (1:30.37).

In diving it was Concord’s Lauren Boone that earned the top spot. Boone, who has seemingly been diving at Concord since the Clinton administration, continued to her successful senior campaign with a score of 246.20. Wawasee’s Riley Kunkle was third with a 136.10.

Both the Wawasee boys and girls teams are now 0-2 in Northern Lakes Conference competition. The Warriors will host their annual invite this Saturday at Wawasee Middle School.