With just three practices under its belt, the Paxton Aquatic Wildcats swim team took to the pool for its first meet of the season last Thursday against Rantoul in Paxton.

Paxton came out on the short end, losing 321-213, but coach Alex Goudy thought it was a quality effort considering the short prep time, which was the result of the Paxton Park District pool just recently opening after modifications.

“It was great seeing everything run again just like it had been,” Goudy said of the team’s return to the pool for the first time in two years.

Several Wildcats were victorious in multiple events. In the 9/10-yearold boys’ division, Drake Schrodt won the 25-meter freestyle (21.75 seconds), the 25 butterfly (28.12) and the 25 backstroke (27.56).

Olivia Frichtl was a standout in the girls’ 11/12 division, winning the 50 freestyle (41.28) and the 50 backstroke (28.78). Kalli Goudy was a double winner as well. A 12-year-old, she won the 50 butterfly (54.19) in the girls’ 13-14 division and the 50 backstroke (58.28) in the 11/12 division.

Other winners for the Wildcats were Clayton Bender (25 freestyle in boys’ 8 and under), Mallory Johnson (25 breaststroke in girls’ 8 and under), Sydney Brust (25 breaststroke in girls’ 9/10) and Donovan Spinelli (50 butterfly in boys’ 15/18).

Paxton also won 10 relays.

On Saturday, Paxton took to the pool again at home, falling 278-244 to Turtle Run of Danville.

The Wildcats had three athletes win three events. In  the 9/10 girls’ division, Brust won the 25 freestyle (20.47), the 25 backstroke (27.16) and the 25 breaststroke (25.03).

In the boys’ 11/12 division, Nick Harper won the 50 freestyle (44.19), 50 butterfly (1:05.37) and 50 backstroke (57.44). In the boys’ 13/14 division, Matt Harper won the 50 freestyle (35.56), the 50 butterfly (43.78) and  the 50 backstroke (46.32).

Kellyn Maynard was also victorious twice for the Wildcats in the 13/14 girls’ division, and Bender won two events in the boys’ 8 and under division. Ethan Bouse (boy’s 8 and under 25 freestyle) and Frichtl (girls’ 11/12 50 freestyle) were winners as well.

Paxton also won 10 relays.

“I was pleased with them against Turtle Run. A lot of kids from Turtle Run swim year-round, and it’s hard to compete with that. These kids, not all of them even made it to all four practices we’d had. Four practices and two meets in six days is quite a bit for just starting up,” Alex Goudy said. “There’s still quite a bit of stroke work and stuff that needs to be worked on and things like that. Overall, I thought it went real well.”

Paxton’s next meet is at home against Watseka on Saturday at 9 a.m. It also hosts Hoopeston on Monday and Gibson City on Tuesday.