Ladue Horton Watkins High School

The Ladue Rams Boys Swimming & Diving Team hosted the Pattonville Pirates and the Ft. Zumwalt Lions on Tuesday, October 6th in a non-conference tri-meet. Using a varied lineup, with several swimmers doing “off” events, the Rams executed a complete team effort and scored 158 points to win the meet, in front of Pattonville with 121 and Zumwalt East at 26. The outcome takes the Rams to 3-1-0 (first-second-third) in tri-meets while still leading the Red Conference with a 4-0 record. The Rams utilized their strong team depth at the meet, outscoring both opponents handily despite winning only four of the nine individual events for 28 points. Pattonville won the other five individual events. Rams individual event winners included JR co-captain Kevin Wu (200 free), JR Luther Ciorba (1M diving), JR Eliot Levine (100 fly) and SO Dravya Pradhan (100 free). Notably, the Rams won all three relays as well, a huge factor in winning the meet, scoring 42 points in the process. The numerous individual Rams who scored in 2nd-6th places using tri-meet scoring included FR Kelson Cui (2nd 200 free, 3rd 500 free), SR co-captain Arlo Ziolkowski (2nd 200 IM, 2nd 500 free), JR Kevin He (3rd 200 IM, 3rd 100 back), SO Alvin He (3rd 50 free), JR Brighton Westermayer (2nd 1M diving), FR Ray Blum (3rd 100 fly), SO Max Bending (3rd 100 free), SR Sam Etherington (2nd 100 back), and SO Jinghuan Xu (4th 100 breast). A very consistent performance by the Rams, always taking two places out of the top four – never a 5th or 6th place. As mentioned, all three Rams A relays won their event – the 200 medley of Ziolkowski, Xu, Levine and Bending: the 200 free of Wu, Pradhan, Levine, and Bending, and the 400 free of Levine, Pradhan, Ziolkowski, and Bending. The Rams B relays contributed as well, taking a 2nd in the 200 medley with Etherington, SR co-captain Frank Tian, Kevin He and Blum, and two 3rd places in the free relays: the 200 of SR Carson Crane, SR Oscar Yanuck, Blum and Cui, and the 400 of FR Reed Sehy, Alvin He, Cui and Kevin He. A great showing by the Rams relays! Several new State cuts were established at the meet. They include Wu in the 200 free and 100 breast (1:57.52, 1:08.74), Cui in the 200 free (1:58.82), Ziolkowski in the 200 IM (2:15.88), and Pradhan in the 100 free (52.47). The Rams continue to place eight individuals with 21 cuts and all three relays qualified on the Class 1 State list, with all three relays inside the top 12. Holding 21 cuts before the Conference meet is a testimony to the team depth of the Rams! The Rams travel to Parkway South for their final Red Conference dual meet on Thursday October 9th. After that, they host another non-conference tri-meet with the Parkway Central Colts and DeSmet Spartans on Tuesday October 13th, followed by a dual meet at John Burroughs on Thursday the 15th. See the Ladue Activities website for details. GO RAMS!