BARTLESVILLE SPLASH CLUB PARTICIPATES IN TALLCHIEF OPEN WATER CHALLENGE
Bartlesville Splash Club members participate in the 18th annual Tallchief Open Water Challenge at Skiatook Lake on Sept. 13.
STEPHANIE J LIEF/Bartlesville Area Sports Report
Bartlesville Splash Club members Quinn Smith and Bryleigh Shanklin participate in the 18th annual Tallchief Open Water Challenge at Skiatook Lake on Sept. 13.
STEPHANIE J LIEF/Bartlesville Area Sports Report
By Stephanie J Lief
Sept. 21, 2026
BARTLESVILLE AREA SPORTS REPORT
The Bartlesville Splash Club took to the open waters of Skiatook Lake at Zinck Ranch on Sept. 13 for the 18th annual Tallchief Open Water Challenge.
Hosted by the Tulsa Masters Swim Club, the strenuous long-distance event featured 136 participants navigating a mapped course of continuous swimming.
Competitors chose from multiple distances, including quarter-mile, half-mile, 1-mile, 2-mile, and 3-mile courses.
Splash Club was well-represented by 15 entries. The group included Splash Club and Bruin head coach Chad Englehart, alongside swim parents Chad Ellis and Aaron Kuntz, who "walked the walk" by challenging themselves in the long-distance events.
Several Splash Club members earned top finishes in their respective age groups:
3-Mile Challenge: Parker Shoesmith placed first in his age group, and Grayson Ellis finished second.
2-Mile Challenge: Addie Kuntz secured a first-place finish, while Aaron Kuntz finished sixth.
1-Mile Challenge: Chad Englehart took second place. Everett Ellis finished third, Keaston Meek placed eighth, and Bryleigh Shanklin and James Enterkin both secured 10th-place finishes. Quinn Smith finished 11th, and Chad Ellis took 12th.
Half-Mile Challenge: Oliver Ellis earned second place, and Kane Smith finished sixth.
Quarter-Mile Challenge: Euan Kobersky took first place, and Killian Smith finished second.
Splash Club kicks off its short course season on Sept. 19. The upcoming schedule features four locally hosted meets among several regional events:
Sept. 19: Intrasquad Meet (Bartlesville)
Oct. 3: IMAX Challenge (Topeka, Kan.)
Oct. 23-25: Jenks Invite (Jenks)
Oct. 31: Splash Club 10-and-Under Invite (Bartlesville)
Nov. 7: Bixby 12-and-Under Invite (Bixby)
Nov. 20-22: TYR Super Finals (Fayetteville, Ark.)
Dec. 4-6: Stars of Winter (Bartlesville)
Jan. 8-9: Swim Tulsa Invite (Tulsa)
Jan. 15-17: Meet of Champions (Bartlesville)
Jan. 29-31: AESC Invitational (Edmond)
Feb. 12-14: Oklahoma Swimming Regionals (Tulsa)
Feb. 25-28: Oklahoma State Championships 14-U (Jenks)
March 4-7: Oklahoma Senior State Championships (Bartlesville)
Bartlesville Splash Club member Killian Smith crosses the finish line at the 18th annual Tallchief Open Water Challenge at Skiatook Lake on Sept. 13.
STEPHANIE J LIEF/Bartlesville Area Sports Report