MONETT, Mo. — Carl Junction and Carthage finished in a near-deadlock for third place at the 2025 Monett Girls Swim & Dive Invitational on December 20, with Carl Junction edging out the Tigers 285.5 to 285 in team scoring. Joplin placed eighth with 119 points as Monett dominated the meet with 379 points, followed by West Plains at 338.
The Bulldogs delivered several standout performances, highlighted by Elsa Dogotch, who claimed second place in both the 50-yard freestyle (26.94) and 100-yard breaststroke (1:14.98). Madelyn Moritz contributed strong showings with third in the 100 butterfly (1:14.96) and a key role in the third-place 200 freestyle relay (1:56.54). Carl Junction also earned third in the 400 freestyle relay (4:25.57) and fourth in the 200 medley relay, helping secure their narrow advantage over Carthage.
Carthage showed impressive depth, winning the 400 freestyle relay in 4:20.86 behind a strong anchor leg from Matilde Cicchetti, who also took second in the 200 freestyle (2:18.79) and 500 freestyle (6:16.51). Kamryn Dininger added a third-place finish in the 100 freestyle (1:01.95), while Caelyn Samuelson placed third in both the 200 IM (2:38.87) and 100 backstroke (1:12.56). The Tigers’ fourth-place 200 freestyle relay rounded out a balanced effort that kept them within half a point of third.
Joplin’s Brooklynn Lurten took fourth in the 100 butterfly (1:17.16), while Brylea Smith placed fifth in the 100 breaststroke (1:22.12). The Eagles’ 200 freestyle relay finished ninth, and their 400 freestyle relay placed eighth, contributing to a solid mid-pack result.