Gryphons host conference meet

Thomas Jeffersom swimming hosted the Western Highlands Conference Championship Meet Monday night and eventually claimed the girl's crown with wins over Hendersonville and Owen High School.

"First that I am very proud of the team," said TJCA coach Rob Martelle. "We have gone from five total kids two years ago, to 11 last year to 17 this year. I expect mid 20's next year. We are trying to build a team that can compete on a state level every year."

The girls team finished the meet with 116 points, 35 better than second-place Hendersonville, with wins from Ann Huston (200 free and 100 fly), Lindsey Martelle (200 IM and 100 breast), Leah Lineberry (100 back), the 200 Medley Relay team (Lineberry, Huston, Martelle, and Rachael Tevis) and the 200 Free Relay team (Huston , Tevis, Martelle and Stephanie Lola).

"Ann Huston, a junior,  has been outstanding all year," Martelle said. "She should easily qualify for the State Championships and has been a real leader. Her 100 butterfly has been outstanding. We made some changes to her race early in the year and it has really paid off.  She just keeps getting faster as the year goes on."

Martelle also had plenty of praise for the young and talented Lindsay Martelle.

"Lindsey Martelle, a freshmen, has burst onto the scene as well.  She also should easliy qualify for the State Championships in the 100 Breaststroke," Martelle said. "Both Ann [Huston] and Lindsey have a real chance to make the finals at the state meet in a couple of weeks."

With the wins, the girls qualified for their respective events at the regional meet.

"Rachael Tevis, Stephanie Lola and Leah Lineberry all qualified (along with Huston and Martelle) on two relays," Martell said. "The relays have a decent chance of making the State Championships. If the girls can put together four strong legs we should be swimming at the State meet in a couple of weeks."

Huston was also named the WHC Women's MVP.

Other Top 3 finishers:

Men's 200 Medley Relay (Christian Bare, Ben Schaeffer, Addison Conn, Cole Bennett) - 2nd place

Addison Conn - 2nd place 200 Free

Leah Lineberry - 3rd place - 200 IM

Stephanie Lola - 3rd place - 50 Free; 2nd place - 100 Breast

Cole Bennett - 3rd place - 50 Free; 3rd place - 100 Free

Rachael Tevis - 2nd place - 100 Free

Olivia Treutlein - 2nd place - 500 Free

Men's 200 Free Relay (Christian Bare, Ben Schaeffer, John Kean, Cole Bennett) - 2nd place

Christian Bare - 2nd place - 100 Back

John Kean - 3rd place - 100 Breast

Women's 400 Free Relay (Leah Lineberry, Kristen Ruppe, Olivia Treutlein, Stephanie Lola)

Personal best times:

Women 200 Medley Relay (Lineberry, Martelle, Huston, Tevis)

Men 200 Medley Relay (Bare, Schaeffer, Kean, Bennett)

Addison Conn - 200 Free

Stephanie Lola - 50 Free, 100 Breast

Gracie Hollifield - 50 Free

Christian Bare - 50 Free

Ben Schaeffer - 50 Free

Rachael Tevis - 100 Free

Autumn Ruppe - 100 Free

Cole Bennett - 100 Free

Women 200 Free Relay (Huston, Lola, Tevis, Martelle)

Men 200 Free Relay (Bare, Schaeffer, Kean, Cole)

Leah Lineberry - 100 Back

Darby Williams - 100 Breast