Florida 1A-3A State Championships

By Lauren Sampl, Swimming World intern

ORLANDO, Florida, November 24. FLORIDA'S best swimmers and divers gathered for the annual 1A, 2A, and 3A state championships, held Nov. 11th -13th in Orlando. The Bolles School won both the girls' and boys' 1A meet, while the Belen Jesuit boys and Chiles girls took home the team titles at the 2A meet. Riverview (girls) and Miami Palmetto (boys) were crowned champions at the 3A meet. Here are the highlights from each division.

1A Championships

American-Heritage Plantation kicked off the meet in impressive fashion, winning the 200 medley relay in 1:44.24. Lauren Driscoll (25.94), Lindsay McKnight (27.70), Chantal Bouthillier (27.29) and Jessica Randolph (23.31) narrowly beat out the team from Bolles School (1:44.35). Bolles School was victorious on the boys' side, as Ryan Murphy (22.60), Sergio Lujan Rivera (25.38), Joseph Schooling (22.21) and Chris Sadsad (20.59) won by more than five seconds, touching in 1:30.78

Lauren Driscoll of American-Heritage Plantation lit up the scoreboard in the 200 free, touching in a quick 1:45.37. Her time broke Rhi Jeffrey's state record of 1:45.49 from 2002. Colin Hamilton of the Bolles School took the win on the boys' side with a 1:38.12.

The 200 IM race went down to the wire, as South Florida's Clara Smiddy out-touched Lauren Neidigh of the Bolles School, 2:01.30 to 2:01.47. Ryan Murphy of the Bolles School cracked the 1:50 barrier, touching in 1:49.45 to win his first title of the meet.

Doral Academy's Chinyere Pigot posted a quick 23.52 to win the girls' 50 free, while
Chris Sadsad of the Bolles School touched first in 21.04.

Patti Kranz of Westminster Academy ruled the diving well, scoring 448.95 points on her way to victory. Seth Jacobson of Coral Springs Charter scored 449.65 points to edge out second place fnisher Jack Stein of Shorecrest Prep, who tallied 448.00 points.

Another state record went down in the 100 fly, as Lake Highland's Chelsea Britt raced to a time of 53.83. Caroline Kuczynski held the previous record at 54.38 from 2008. On the boys' side, American-Heritage Plantation's Youse Alaskari grabbed first place in 49.58.

Lindsay McKnight of American-Heritage Plantation rocketed to a 49.24 in the 100 free, just missing Rhi Jeffrey's state record 48.73 from 2002. The Bolles School's Colin Hamilton won the boys' 100 in 45.38.

Lauren Driscoll of American-Heritage Plantation returned for her second state title of the meet, winning the 500 free by more than 13 seconds in a time of 4:39.17. Thomas Veale of Pine Crest raced to a state title in 4:25.55 on the boys' side.

Lauren Neidigh (24.23), Savannah Fernandez (24.12), Samantha Rahael (24.04) and Ashley Neidigh (23.96) of the Bolles School teamed up to take the 200 free relay in 1:36.35, narrowly defeating the team from Saint Andrews (1:36.54). Pine Crest's quartet of Marcel Betschart (21.37), Gotti Eisenberger (20.60), Descartes Holland (21.14) and Thomas Veale (21.09) combined for a time of 1:24.20, less than two tenths ahead of the Bolles School relay (1:24.38).

Another state record nearly went down in the 100 back, as Clara Smiddy of the South Florida registered a time of 54.76, just off Sarah Bateman's state record of 54.39 from 2007. National Age Group record holder Ryan Murphy of the Bolles School easily won the boys' race in 48.58, more than three seconds ahead of his nearest competitor.

Lindsay McKnight of American-Heritage Plantation swam to her second state title of the meet, winning the 100 breast in 1:02.03. She missed Annie Babicz's state record of 1:01.98 from 2001 by just .05. Sergio Lujan Rivera of the Bolles School rocketed to a 55.34 to win the boys' 100 breast. He just missed Bradley Ally's state record of 54.72 from 2004.

American-Heritage Plantation posted a time of 3:25.61 to win the girls' 400 free relay. Lauren Driscoll (50.16), Jessica Randolph (51.12), Chantal Bouthillier (55.29) and Lindsay McKnight (49.04) comprised the winning relay. The Bolles School tandem of Colin Hamilton (45.53), George Frank (45.67), Teo D'Alessandro (46.29) and Ryan Murphy (44.71) won in 3:02.20, only four tenths off the state record of 3:01.80 set by the Bolles school in 1999.

2A Championships

Chiles High School kicked off their run to the girls' state championship with a win in the opening 200 medley relay. Mary Sinatra (28.45), Lia Lombardi (30.46), Alyssa Yambor Maul (25.48) and Delaney Barnard (23.75) joined forces to win in 1:48.14. Mosley was victorious on the boys' side, as Michael Whitehead (25.88), Chet Seaman (27.47), Tyler Kent (24.53) and Samuel Reyes (21.92) swam to a time of 1:39.80.

Estero's Molly Dubrasky raced to a win in the 200 free, stopping the clock in 1:48.34. Tyler Rocca of Gainesville won the boys' crown in 1:39.06.

The 200 IM state title went to Kelsey Buckley of Tarpon Springs, as she touched in 2:03.68 for the win. Carlos Omana of Belen Jesuit recorded a sizzling time of 1:47.61, just over a second off the state record of 1:46.31 set by Bradley Ally in 2004.

Rachel Elliot of Gulf Coast nearly cracked the 23-second barrier, sprinting to a win in 23.16. Paxon's Ian Apple took the boys' splash and dash in 21.01.

In the diving competition, Delaney Dye of Leon grabbed the top spot on the podium with her score of 465.10 points. Cole Maffeo of Merritt Island snared first place on the boys' side with his score of 406.70 points, just over a point ahead of second place finisher Alex Hill of Wesley Chapel, who tallied 405.15 points.

Lincoln's Alexandra Merritt won a close battle in the 100 fly over Bishop Kenny's Heather Coutts, with the two registering times of 55.35 and 55.59, respectively. Andy Vasquez of Belen Jesuit cracked 50 seconds to win the boys' state title in 49.49.

Kaitlyn Dressel of Clay won the girls' 100 free in 50.28, while Julian Ballestas of Belen Jesuit claimed first for the boys in 45.62.

Two swimmers went under 4:50 in the 500 free, with Molly Dubrasky of Estero earning her second title of the meet in 4:45.77. Danielle Valley of Lakewood Ranch was just behind her in 4:48.55. Carlos Omana of Belen Jesuit added to his 200 IM win with a victory in the distance free. His final time was 4:24.82.

Holy Names' quartet of Paige Russell (25.00), Tori Litschgi (25.15), Konner Brewer (25.04) and Clare Fleming (24.16) raced to the championship in the 200 free relay, posting a time of 1:39.35. The Belen Jesuit squad was victorious in the boys' relay, as Andy Vazquez (21.33), Julian Ballestas (20.68), Matthew Long (22.07) and Carlos Omana (21.01) touched the pads in 1:25.09.

Bishop Kenny's Heather Coutts, runner-up in the 100 fly, ascended to the top of the podium with a 56.48 in the 100 fly. She was closely followed by Caroline Page of Pace (56.54) and Zoe McFarlane of Pensacola (56.94). Gainesville's Tyler Rocca became a state champion when he touched in 50.88 to win the boys' race.

Lia Lombardi picked up crucial points for Chiles with her 1:04.77 win in the 100 breast. Catherine Duquet of Titusville was right on her heels, touching in 1:04.98. Mitchell's Devin McCaffrey posted a 58.70 to win the boys' 100 breast.

Chiles closed out the meet with a win in the final relay. Cecelia Williams (52.50), Alyssa Yambor Maul (53.67), Lia Lombardi (53.85) and Delaney Barnard (51.72) sealed the championship with their winning time of 3:31.74. Belen Jesuit smoked the competition in the boys' relay, winning by more than 11 seconds in 3:03.86. Andy Vazquez (45.75), Julian Ballestas (45.19), Matthew Long (47.30) and Carlos Omana (45.62) were members of the victorious relay and helped Belen Jesuit claim the boys' team title.

3A Championships

The 3A state championships featured a multitude of exciting races, with many decided by only tenths or hundredths of a second.

Ellice Mae Sanchez (28.39), Halie Lacey (29.95), Angela Algee (25.49) and Allie Magrino (24.83) led Dr. Phillips to a win in the opening medley relay, recording a time of 1:48.66, just .11 ahead of second place Riverview. Miami Palmetto, represented by Samuel Smiddy (23.87), Andrew Smiddy (26.53), Austin Manganiello (22.41) and Derek Iglesias (21.49), won a tight four-team battle in the boys' relay, touching in 1:34.30 for the win. The top four teams finished within half a second of each other.

Katherine Muth of Sarasota won another close race in the 200 free in 1:48.88, touching out second place finisher Taylor Katz of Riverview (1:49.04). Nicholas Caldwell of Riverview won the boys' 200 in a speedy time of 1:36.94.

Angela Algee of Dr. Phillips and Matthew Curby of Hagerty became state champions in the 200 IM when they touched in times of 2:02.51 and 1:47.05, respectively.

Harper Bruens of Boca Raton asserted herself as the fastest 50 freestyler in division 3A, stopping the clock in 23.43 for the win. Matt Ellis of Countyside went well under 21 seconds, posting a winning time of 20.58 in the boys' race.

In diving, Cherie Hammond of West Orange amassed 538.85 points to easily win the girls' title, while Olympia's Joey Dowd took home gold in the boys' competition with 472.90 points.

More fast times were in store following diving, as Ferguson's Ana Anaya uncorked a 54.99 to win the 100 fly. Countryside's Matt Ellis, the 50 free champ, added to his collection of first place medals with a 49.26 effort in the 100 fly.

Ashlee Linn of Riverview narrowly won the 100 free crown in 51.00, as the top five finishers were all within half a second of each other. Steyn Funk of Olympia dipped under 46 seconds with a 45.62 to win the boys' 100 free.

After a second place finish in the 200 free, Riverview's Taylor Katz roared to victory in the 500, winning by more than six seconds in 4:49.55. Nicholas Caldwell of Riverview added to his 200 free state title with a win in 4:20.53.

Ginny Grams (23.75), Shaun Casey (23.85), Emily Grams (24.24) and Kelsey Hoffman (25.03) gave Spruce Creek their first relay win of the meet, sprinting to a time of 1:36.87. Countryside's tandem of Richard Willsey (22.07), John Kelly (21.35), Jon Witkowski (21.79) and Matt Ellis (20.26) combined to win the boys' relay in 1:25.47.

St. Petersburg's Jessica Piper beat out Ashlee Linn of Riverview in the 100 back, 55.81 to 55.89 to claim her first state championship of the meet. Matthew Curby of Hagerty won by just two tenths of a second in the boys' race, recording a time of 49.07.

Yet another exciting race unfolded in the 100 breast, as only three tenths of a second separated the top four finishers. Seminole's Hannah Roper emerged victorious in 1:05.60. All eight finalists on the boys' side cracked the 1:00 barrier, but it was Jason Coombs of Hagerty who took top honors with his time of 57.06.

The ladies of Spruce Creek added another relay win to their collection, posting a time of 3:30.30. Ginny Grams (51.69), Emily Grams (53.90), Kendal Casey (52.74) and Shaun Casey (51.97) comprised the winning relay. Hagerty's Matthew Curby (44.91), Takashi Worrell (47.71), Zack Edgar (47.88) and Jason Coombs (46.04) won the boys' final relay in 3:06.54.

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