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Regional swimming preview

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By KATHERINE SMITH | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 5, 2009

A shot at the FHSAA Swimming and Diving Championships is on the line for several Hillsborough County athletes. Here's a breakdown of the regional competitions that can catapult them to Orlando next week.

CLASS 3A-REGION 2

WHEN AND WHERE: Friday at 1 p.m. at Clearwater High (diving) and Saturday at 9 a.m. for preliminaries and 5 p.m. for finals at the Northshore Pool in St. Petersburg (swimming).

TEAMS: Bloomingdale, Brandon, Freedom, Gaither, George Jenkins, Lakeland, Newsome, Plant City, Riverview, Tampa Bay Tech, Wharton, Alonso, Chamberlain, Clearwater, Countryside, East Lake, Largo, Northeast, Palm Harbor University, Pinellas Park, Plant, Seminole, Charlotte, Gibbs, Manatee, North Port, Port Charlotte, Riverview, St. Petersburg, Sarasota, Venice

OUTLOOK: Wharton's Jordan Rees' path to the medal stand at state is paved with the top seed in the 50 free with his time of 21.52. He also has the second seed in the 100 free (47.92) Plant's John Deedrick has the second-best time in the 200 free (1:43.96) and fourth in the 500 free (4:40.18). Bloomingdale diver Nick Wing-Holt claimed the second seed with a point total of 443.55.

In the girls competition, Plant's 200 free relay team of Rebecca Werdine, Elin Slaatmo, Haley Hahmann and Hillary Hahmann leads the region (1:40.98). Hillsborough County swimmers produced five of the top 10 seeds in the 100 free, including Wharton's Blair Kuethe's third seed (54.01). Newsome's Brittany Mathers leads the divers with a point total of 431.20, followed by Plant's Alex Hagen (414.10).

CLASS 2A-REGION 3

WHEN AND WHERE: Friday at 9 a.m. for preliminaries and 6 p.m. for finals at the Northshore Pool in St. Petersburg (swimming).

TEAMS: Auburndale, Bartow, Celebration, Haines City, Kathleen, Lake Gibson, Lake Region, Lake Wales, Poinciana, Ridge Community, Sebring, Winter Haven, Armwood, Blake, Durant, East Bay, Hillsborough, Academy of the Holy Names, Jefferson, Jesuit, King, Leto, Sickles, Spoto, Bayshore, Boca Ciega, Booker, Braden River, Dixie Hollins, Dunedin, Lakewood, Lakewood Ranch, Lemon Bay, Osceola, Southeast, Tarpon Springs

OUTLOOK: Jesuit's Chris Swanson has the top seeds in the 200 free (1:45.74) and 100 free (49.59) and also swims a leg of the top 400 free relay team (3:28.77). Sickles Trey Went III has the top spot in the 50 free (22.64), while Hillsborough's Jamie Perez has the top seed in the 100 back (59.01).

Academy of the Holy Names Molly Sheridan is the top seed in the 50 free (24.79) and swims a leg of the leading 200 free relay (1:43.78). The Sickles relay team of Katie Sienkiewicz, Katie Cook, Cristina DeCisneros and Katie Westbrook is first with a time of 1:56.43. Cook also has the top seed in the 100 free (53.33).

CLASS 1A-REGION 3

WHEN AND WHERE: Saturday at 1 p.m. (diving) and 9 a.m. for preliminaries and 6 p.m. for finals (swimming) at the Selby Aquatic Center in Sarasota.

TEAMS: Bayshore Christian, Berkeley Prep, Calvary Christian, Clearwater Central Catholic, Lennard, Middleton, Robinson, Seffner Christian, Strawberry Crest, Steinbrenner, Tampa Catholic, Tampa Prep, Admiral Farragut, Bradenton Christian, Canterbury, Cardinal Mooney, Indian Rocks Christian, Keswick Christian, Northside Christian, Out-of-Door, St. Petersburg Catholic, St. Stephen's, Sarasota Christian, Shorecrest Prep, Bishop Verot, Fort Myers Canterbury, Community School, Dunbar, Evangelical Christian, Golden Gate, Island Coast, Oasis, St. John Neumann, Seacrest Country Day

OUTLOOK: Thanks to its first district title in 10 years, Berkeley Prep's boys, led by the Bandes brothers Alex and Zack, Sam Bobo, Andrea Hatoum and Will Miller claimed the top seed in all three relays. In the 50 free, Robinson freshman John Nolte is the second seed (22.76), one of six Hillsborough County swimmers in the top 10.

For the girls, Tampa Prep gets a boost from its first district title since 1993. Diver Kaliya Burton-Akright claimed the top region spot with 456.10 points. The Terrapins Emma Siewert is the third seed in the 200 IM (2:16.30) and 100 fly (1:00.78). Berkeley is led by Laura Jordan's top seed in the 50 free (24.42) and second seed in the 100 fly (59.26).

Reporter Katherine Smith can be reached at (813) 259-7860.

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