West Ottawa's Luke Catton edges HC's Jake Shoemaker in epic sprint clash

5 days ago 2

Two of the top programs in the state clashed for a close swim meet at Holland Aquatic Center.

The West Ottawa boys, ranked No. 4 in Division 1, defeated Holland Christian, ranked No. 3 in Division 3, 98-88 on Tuesday, Jan. 6.

The closest race of the meet was between two of the top swimmers in the area - and the state.

West Ottawa's Luke Catton won the 100-yard freestyle in 47.53 to edge Holland Christian's Jake Shoemaker (47.57) by just four hundredths of a second.

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Catton's time is the eighth-fastest in the state so far this season.

Catton also won the 50 freestyle in 21.89 to hold off Holland Christian's Andrew Bengelink (22.77).

West Ottawa's Luke Catton competes in the 200 yard freestyle during the Swimming State Championship on Saturday, March 15, in Holland.

Shoemaker earned a win in the 100 backstroke with a swim of 56.45.

West Ottawa started strong with a win in the 200-yard medley relay as Grady Armstrong, Grant Milobinski, Simon Prins and Catton in 1:40.44.

Armstrong won the 200 freestyle in 1:49.46, going 1-2 with Noah Williams (1:51.50). Armstrong also won the 500 freestyle (4:57.84).

Milobinski won the 200 IM in 2:03.38, holding off Holland Christian's Josiah DeVries (2:05.84). In the 100 breaststroke, Milobinski won in 1:02.38 to again hold off DeVries (1:03.56).

Milobinski, Williams, Catton and Armstrong won the 200 free relay in 1:31.70, holding off Holland Christian by two seconds.

Holland Christian's Charlie DeHaan, fresh off breaking the school record for six dives, had another strong performance with a win with 243.60 points, nearly 40 points ahead of the rest of the field.

Holland Christian's Miles Stock won the 100 butterfly in 55.06, ahead of Prins (56.23).

Stock, Bengelink, Charlie DeVries and Shoemaker won the 400 freestyle relay in 3:32.05.

Contact sports editor Dan D’Addona at Dan.D’Addona@hollandsentinel.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter @DanDAddona or Facebook @HollandSentinelSports.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Luke Catton leads West Ottawa boys past Holland Christian

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