Galesburg’s depth proved to be the difference Feb. 7 as the Silver Streaks won the Western Big 6 boys swimming and diving championships in Sterling, capturing the varsity team title behind four event victories and consistent finishes across the lineup.
“It was a meet where the quality of our top eight swimmers really shined,” coach Jake Miller said. “The Streaks won all three relays but only had one individual champion. However, we consistently placed two swimmers in the top six in every event, which accounted for the high point total.”
The conference championship was the fourth straight for Galesburg on the boys side and followed back-to-back titles by the girls program.
The Silver Streaks won four varsity events, highlighted by victories in all three relays. Galesburg opened the meet by taking first in the 200-yard medley relay (1:50.41) with Nolan Good, Samuel Puerta, Mahmoud Shehata and Brady Jackson, then added wins in the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:35.48) and 400-yard freestyle relay (3:30.57).
Individually, Puerta, a freshman, claimed a conference title in the 100-yard breaststroke with a winning time of 1:08.69, while Brayden McGuire finished second in both the 200 individual medley (2:04.38) and 100 butterfly (56.39). Cole Furrow added runner-up finishes in the 200 freestyle (1:57.04) and 100 backstroke (58.66).
Galesburg also received multiple top-four finishes from Shehata, Good, Jackson and Brody McGuire, helping the Silver Streaks finish with 295 points, ahead of Sterling, Moline and Rock Island.
1-meter diving
• Charles Hayden — second, 262.00
200 medley relay
• Galesburg (Nolan Good, Samuel Puerta, Mahmoud Shehata, Brady Jackson) — first, 1:50.41
200 freestyle
• Cole Furrow — second, 1:57.04
• Brody McGuire — fifth, 2:07.38
200 IM
• Brayden McGuire — second, 2:04.38
• Mohamed Shehata — sixth, 2:28.04
50 freestyle
• Mahmoud Shehata — third, 24.18
• Brady Jackson — sixth, 25.81
100 butterfly
• Brayden McGuire — second, 56.39
• Brody McGuire — sixth, 1:02.95
100 freestyle
• Mahmoud Shehata — third, 53.45
• Nolan Good — fourth, 54.28
500 freestyle
• Samuel Puerta — third, 5:32.89
• Brady Jackson — fourth, 5:36.67
200 freestyle relay
• Galesburg (Mahmoud Shehata, Brody McGuire, Cole Furrow, Brayden McGuire) — first, 1:35.48
100 backstroke
• Cole Furrow — second, 58.66
• Nolan Good — fourth, 1:04.19
100 breaststroke
• Samuel Puerta — first, 1:08.69
• Mohamed Shehata — third, 1:12.50
400 freestyle relay
• Galesburg (Brayden McGuire, Nolan Good, Samuel Puerta, Cole Furrow) — first, 3:30.57
The Silver Streaks will compete next at the IHSA sectional meet Feb. 21, hosted by United Township. Diving begins at 9 a.m., followed by swimming at 1 p.m.
