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Hunter Copeland, Walburn lead Otters at Fort Wayne

Members of the Huntington-Wells Otters participated in Indiana Swimming's Northeast Divisional Championships at the Helen P. Brown Natatorium at South Side High School in Fort Wayne on March 5-7.

Only swimmers who had met qualifying time standards throughout the regular season were able to advance to the divisional meet.

Hunter Copeland and Sam Walburn led the Otters by securing first-place wins with state qualifying times in two events each in the open male division.

Copeland took the gold in the 100-yard backstroke in :57.67, and the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:04.55.

Walburn took first in the 100-yard butterfly in :54.57 and the 200-yard butterfly in 2:06.79. He also took fourth place in the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard freestyle, as well as fifth place in the 100-yard backstroke.

Also in open male division, Ethan Hethcote took seventh in the 200-yard backstroke.

In 10 and under male division, Walker Copeland landed first place in the 100-yard butterfly with his state qualifying time of 1:24.72. He also took sixth in the 100-yard backstroke.

The same division saw Corbin Cozad take third in the 100-yard freestyle and fourth in the 200-yard individual medley.

Logan Ackley took third place in the 100-yard freestyle with his state qualifying time of 1:00.67 in the 12 and under male division. He also placed fifth in the 50-yard breaststroke and sixth in the 50-yard freestyle.

The 14 and under male division saw in Cole Ackley taking fifth in the 200-yard breaststroke.

In open female division, Cassie Hacker took third in the 100-yard breaststroke and sixth in the 200-yard breaststroke.

In the same division, Sara Karst placed seventh in the 200-yard backstroke.

With qualifying times, Walter Copeland, Hunter Copeland, Ackley and Walburn are eligible to compete in the Senior State Championships March 12-14, or the Age Group State Championships on March 19-21. Both events are hosted by Indiana Swimming, and will be held at the IU Natatorium on the campus of Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.