Columbus East High School

The Columbus East boys and girls swim teams kicked off their 2025–26 seasons on the road Thursday night, traveling to Shelbyville for their opening meet. The Golden Bears came out on top in both contests, but the Olympians still produced several bright spots during the meet. For the boys, Josh Pendleton set the tone early with a pair of standout victories. He controlled the 200 individual medley and later dominated the 500 freestyle, showing mid-season form right out of the gate. Pendleton also joined Alex Stilson, Ryan Lienhoop, and Marvin Mauer to win the 200 medley relay, giving East its first relay win of the new campaign. Sprinter Ryan Turner grabbed second-place finishes in both the 50 free and 100 free, while Stilson added another runner-up finish in the 100 backstroke, helping the Olympians stack key points throughout the night. On the girls side, Baylee Benefield delivered East’s lone victory, taking control of the 200 freestyle and pulling away late. Savannah Burton added a strong second-place finish in the 100 backstroke, giving the young squad an early highlight. Even with Shelbyville claiming both meets, the opener gave Columbus East a solid read on where they stand. With individual wins already on the board and plenty of room to grow, the Olympians now look to build momentum as the 2025–26 schedule continues.