Another breathtaking day for big-time breaststroker Brenley Bonez at DAC meet, where she broke her own school record in one race and set a personal best in another

Tom Keegan
Onwardtrojans.com

The bathrooms are empty and the concession lines vanish every time Chesterton sophomore Brenley Bonez and Valparaiso senior Maddie Moreth line up next to each other to race the breaststroke for 100 yards.
If Chesterton vs. Valparaiso at the DAC, sectional and state meets under any circumstances amounts to an event within an event, then Bonez vs. Moreth is an event within an event within an event, and far more entertaining than the 2010 film “Inception.”
They unquestionably make each other better.
“We do,” Bonez said. “Having each other in a race is amazing, and I’ve known her for a while, so it’s fun to have someone you know to race against.”
The spectators at Valparaiso for the girls DAC Swim and Dive Championships were treated to a battle between two of the state’s best swimmer’s. Midway through the race, they touched the wall at the same instant, so it was anybody’s race.
“That’s not the first time that has happened,” elite Trojans junior swimmer Adalyn Laughner said. “They did that at our home meet, too.”
Chesterton sophomore swimmer Kennedy Draves said, “I wasn’t even swimming in it and it made me so anxious.”
Added freshman Reese Kellstrom: “We were all holding hands and screaming.”
They remained close the whole race and Moreth touched the wall first, swimming a 1:00.21, a faster time than she swam to win state last year in 1:00.58. Kellstrom finished second in 1:00.92.
Earlier this season, in a dual meet at Chesterton, Bonez touched first, swimming a 1:01.80 and Moreth was second with a 1:02.29.
“Phenomenal race,” Chesterton swim coach Jenni Kellstrom said at the DAC meet. “They were incredible. Lifetime best times across the board for Brenley today by significant margins and that’s incredible.”
The 100 breast is the 11th of 12 events, the 400 free relay the 12th. Bonez swims in that as well.
“It’s hard going right from the 100 breast to that, but I make it work,” Bonez said.
She also swam the breaststroke for 50 meters in the 200-yard medley relay, the meet’s first event, and won the 50 freestyle, the fourth event, in 23.18, her best time.
Is that a school record?
“No,” Bonez said. “Not yet.”
Vaness Krause has held that record, a 22.94, for 10 years now.
“Everyone’s amazing,” Bonez said of teammates who joined her in winning the team title by a wide margin. “They’re all coming on powerfully and it shows.”