The Kearney High School Varsity Boys Swim & Dive team closed the regular season with a statement, turning the conference meet held on Oct. 30-Nov. 1 into a showcase of depth, grit and speed. The Bulldogs won 11 of 12 events, piled up PRs across the board and ran away with the team title by 140 points, their 11th consecutive conference championship!

From the first relay, KHS set the tone. The 200 Medley Relay of Braeden Mallonee, Bennett Freeman, Whitaker Steward, and Milo Sumpter dropped two seconds to win it, with Bennett splitting a PR. The momentum never let up. In the 200 Free, Brayden Peck stormed to the title with a massive 6.5-second PR, followed by Landon Morrill in second (another PR), with Patrick McNellis and Konnor Spring slashing double-digit times for sixth and seventh. Whitaker Steward owned the 200 IM for the win, breaking the Gladstone pool record, and later returned to take the 500 Free with a season best and another Gladstone pool record.

The sprints were just as sharp. In the 50 Free, Milo Sumpter (2nd), Isaac Jensen (3rd) and Isaac Clayton (4th) all hit PRs, with Bennett adding a season best in seventh. Isaac Jensen then won the 100 Free on a PR that also earned a state consideration cut, with Milo second and Brayden fifth.

Kearney’s relays slammed the door: the 200 Free Relay of Isaac Clayton, Bennett, Landon and Isaac Jensen chopped four seconds to win; the 400 Free Relay with Whitaker, Isaac Jensen, Milo and Braeden finished the night as champions, highlighted by a PR split from Whitaker. On the strokes, Braeden doubled back to win the 100 Back, with Patrick fifth (PR) and Konnor ninth (big PR). Bennett took the 100 Breast title on a PR, joined by Peter Jensen in third (six-second PR) and Eli fourth (six-second PR).

On the boards, Isaac Clayton captured the Diving crown, with Nathan Watson third and Eli Clayton fifth. Braeden Mallonee claimed the 100 Fly with a PR, and Landon added third with another drop.

The team is led by Head Coach Trevor Woehrman, Assistant Coach Ariel Jones, Assistant Coach Ryan Sprugel and Dive Coach David Robinson. They summed it up best: this was a weekend of hard-earned breakthroughs. The boys were prepared, confident, and relentless. The hardware they earned tells the story.

Next up, Isaac Clayton will compete at the District Diving meet on Friday, Nov. 6, and then the Class 1 State Championships will be held Nov. 13-14 in St. Louis. This year's state qualifiers include:

• Whitaker Steward
• Isaac Clayton
• Braeden Mallonee
• Bennett Freeman
• Milo Sumpter
• Isaac Jensen
• Patrick McNellis (Alternate)
• Landon Morrill (Alternate)

Eleven straight Conference championships and still climbing. Let’s keep it rolling, Bulldogs!