Central Kitsap took the plunge against some of the best girls swimming and diving teams Saturday at the 28th Annual Spartan Relays.

The invitational was hosted by Bainbridge High at the Bainbridge Island Aquatic Center, and the spirited event was filled with competitions not usually seen at swim meets.

Central Kitsap did best in the varsity 200-yard butterfly relay and the junior varsity 400-yard freestyle relay. The Cougars placed third in both events.

In the 200-yard butterfly, the Central Kitsap relay team of Leah Avery, Sarah Avery, Madi Polzin and Grace Smith placed third in 2:04.53, just three seconds short of the first-place Bainbridge team (2:01.51). Marysville-Pilchuck & Marysville Getchell was second in 2:03.36.

In the 400-yard junior varsity freestyle relay, the Cougar foursome of Lexxi Goettsch, Chessa Junkin, Madi Polzin and Tris Vanderman claimed third in 5:14.35.

North County took first in the event (4:12.66) and Sehome was second (4:45.95).

Central Kitsap also placed fourth in the 200-yard medley relay.

The Cougar relay team was made up of the Avery sisters, Smith and Samantha Miller. The team finished with a time of 2:04.75.

Central Kitsap also placed fourth in the 400-yard medley relay, the 400-yard freestyle relay, and the 200-yard JV freestyle relay.

The 400-yard medley team saw the same makeup as the 200-yard race; the Averys, Smith and Miller. The team finished with a time of 4:38.56.

The same foursome placed fourth in the 400-yard freestyle with a time of 4:08.64.

The CK junior varsity team of Goettsch, Vanderman, Sarah Rock and Espy Torres-Hernandez also placed fourth in the 200-yard freestyle relay with a time of 2:27.93.

The Cougars hit rough water in the wackiest race of the invitational, the 6×25 innertube relay.

The relay race is always the highlight of the Spartan Relays, but one where the host team rarely comes up short. Bainbridge has only lost once in recent memory, against Camas a few years ago.

The Cougars had a strong start in the race with Leah Avery and then Sarah Avery leading off, but got into a bit of trouble in the later exchanges where swimmers had to get out of their innertubes after the tubes touched the wall and the next swimmer jumped in.

The Marysville team took the early lead, followed by Bainbridge and CK, but the Spartans quickly built a late race lead to finish first in 2:10.74.

Sehome was second, Marysville was third, followed by North County in fourth and CK in fifth. Port Angeles finished last.

Central Kitsap placed sixth in team scores through the 18 events. The Cougars finished with 19 points.