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Plant girls claim region swim title

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By KATHERINE SMITH | The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 8, 2009

Updated: 11/08/2009 12:13 am

ST. PETERSBURG - Before the start of Saturday's Class 3A-Region 2 meet, Plant coach Gil Gonzalez told his girls team it could win it all. The girls just laughed at him.

After finishing second at last week's district meet, the girls didn't think it was possible. They weren't laughing when Plant was announced the girls winner Saturday night at the North Shore Pool. Panthers swimmers launched Gonzalez into the pool to celebrate the victory.

"They looked at me like I had three heads when I told them they could win," Gonzalez said. "We got everyone into the finals and swam strong in the relays, and you win when you do that. Everybody came to swim and score points, and that's the kind of depth that will win meets."

The Panthers girls were second, only two points out of first at the break, thanks to first-place points from diver Alex Hagen, a third in the 200 free from Elin Slaatmo and a third in the 50 free from Rebecca Werdine.

Slaatmo's third in the 500 free put the Panthers in the lead by 2 points. Plant increased the lead to 18 after a second by Emily Clifford and a fourth by Emma Donohue in the 100 breast.

Wharton moved up to fifth with a come-from-behind victory in the 200 free relay (1:39.08). Plant was second (1:39.50). The Panthers secured the victory with a fourth place in the 400 free relay.

Wharton's boys were the top Hillsborough County team, taking sixth thanks to senior Jordan Rees, who won the 50 free (21.20) and 100 free (46.70).

Newsome's Kati Kyle advanced to Friday's state meet with a victory in the 100 back (52.17). Wharton's Patrick Gilbreath won in the 100 breast.

BERKELEY BOYS WIN: Berkeley Prep's boys swim team won the Class 1A-Region 3 meet Saturday in Sarasota.

The Bucs easily beat Sarasota Cardinal Mooney by 117 points. Tampa Prep's boys team finished third. The Terrapins girls also were third.

Berkeley's boys won all three relays. They also got help with a second place from diver Sam Bobo, a second in the 100 breast by Andreas Hatoum and a third from Will Miller in the 200 free. Berkeley Prep's Laura Jordan won the 50 free and 100 fly.

Tampa Prep's girls were aided by diver Kaliya Burton-Akright's win, Emma Siewert's second in the 200 IM and 100 fly, and Carolyn Waite's second in the 50 free. Rasmus Skjaerpe led the Terrapins boys with a third in the 200 IM.

Newsome boys, girls runners place

Racing in one of the most competitive cross country districts in the state, Newsome's boys and girls teams earned berths for the regional by placing in the top eight of the Class 4A-District 3 meet Saturday at Waterfront Park in Clermont.

Paced by freshman Brianna Jackson, who placed 10th overall, the Wolves girls finished fifth in the team standings with 137 points. Jackson, the Hillsborough County champion, covered the 5-kilometer course in 19 minutes, 45 seconds.

Winter Park, the state's No. 1-ranked 4A squad, won the girls meet with 44 points. Newsome had two other runners in the top 25 - twins Sydney and Angie Coates, who were 14th and 23rd, respectively.

In the boys meet, the Wolves were sixth (157).

Not surprising, Dr. Phillips, the No. 1 boys team in 4A, captured first place with 43 points.

"To be honest, I was a little disappointed in fifth place for our girls," Wolves coach Orlando Greene said. "We knew it was going to be competitive we'll have to run our best meet next week to reach state again."

Bill Ward

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