The Dodge City Red Demon boys swim team traveled to Wichita Northwest High School to compete in the Northwest Boys Invitational, facing one of the largest and most competitive fields of the season. Against strong programs from across the state, the Red Demons showed steady progress, highlighted by multiple top-three finishes and personal-best efforts.
A standout performance came from Easton Steiner, who anchored Dodge City throughout the meet. Steiner finished third in the 200-yard freestyle with a time of 2:01.88, earning 16 points while holding off a tightly packed field. He followed that with another podium finish in the 500-yard freestyle, placing third overall in 5:41.69, again scoring 16 points and demonstrating strong endurance against elite distance swimmers.
In individual events, Jacoby Sutton delivered a solid sprint effort in the 50-yard freestyle, tying for ninth place with a time of 24.82 to score eight points. Sutton later returned in the 100-yard freestyle, posting a season-best 59.29 to finish 14th. Teammate Jameson Sutton also competed well in the sprints, finishing 21st in the 50 free and contributing valuable experience in a deep field.
Dodge City saw encouraging results in the 200-yard individual medley, where Jordan Schneweis placed 10th with a time of 2:33.40, earning seven points. Schneweis showed consistency across all four strokes and competed head-to-head with several state-caliber swimmers.
The Red Demons entered multiple relay teams to build depth and race experience. While the A, B, and C relays in the 200-yard medley relay were disqualified, the team gained valuable reps against top competition, including powerhouse programs like Maize and Maize South. The relays later showed improvement as the meet progressed, particularly in exchanges and split consistency.
In the butterfly events, Lucas Marin Vera represented Dodge City in the 100-yard butterfly, finishing with a time of 1:38.29, while gaining experience in one of the meet’s most demanding races.
Overall, the Wichita Northwest Invitational served as a strong measuring stick for Dodge City. With podium finishes from Steiner, point-scoring swims across multiple events, and continued growth in relays and depth events, the Red Demons continue to build momentum as the postseason approaches.
