Platte County had three relays and two individuals hit consideration state qualifying times in its opening meet of the season, and the Pirates also bested the four North Kansas City District schools in the meet, as well. The Pirates showed off their depth last Wednesday and totaled 428 points with Staley (378), North Kansas City (216), Oak Park (193) and Winnetonka (191) following in the standings.
Coincidentally, two of the individual consideration qualifying times came in two of Platte County’s three event victories. The state takes all auto qualifying times, but if there are less than 32 in any event, consideration times are taken to fill out the competition.
In the opener, Platte County junior Dylan Bietz and sophomore Collin Burton hit consideration times. Bietz won the 100-yard freestyle in 53.37 seconds, while Burton topped the 100 butterfly in 1:00.69 to set their early season marks.
Bietz also placed third in the 200 individual medley (2:25.03) with senior teammate Luke Harms about 4 seconds back in fifth.
Ryan Dye, a senior who finished third behind Burton in the 100 butterfly, was Platte County’s other individual event winner, finishing the 100 backstroke in 1:04.45. Burton was fourth in the 50 freestyle (24.44) behind a trio of Staley swimmers, while Harms was fifth in the 500 freestyle (5:58.54) with sophomore Carson Howe in fifth.
Platte County also won a relay, while hitting the consideration time in all three. The 400 freestyle team of Burton, Harms, Bietz and Dye was first in 3:54.77, while the team of Dye, Bietz, Burton and senior Drake Lacina was second in the 200 medley at 1:54.59. The 200 freestyle team of junior Miles Bray, junior Zach Sill, sophomore Brody Corbin and Lacina was fifth out of five teams with the 1:50.43 still good enough for a consideration time.
Lacina was fifth in 100 breaststroke for his best individual finish.
Platte County entered the season with the individual stars of recent seasons but showed off its overall depth and the potential of a youth movement. Dye, Harms and Lacina are the only seniors on the roster.
“After the meet, we feel like we are in a good place,” Platte County coach Bret Anderson said.
