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Newsome sweeps titles

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By KATHERINE SMITH

ksmith@tampatrib.com

Published: October 31, 2009

TAMPA - On Friday night at the New Tampa YMCA, Newsome swimmers worked on seedings for next week's region meet. That they also claimed the boys and girls Class 3A-District 4 championships was an added bonus.

Both Newsome teams, which moved up a class from last year, won their fourth consecutive district titles. The Wolves boys (457) finished ahead of Bloomingdale (341) and Wharton (278). Newsome's girls (488) finished ahead of Wharton (347) and Bloomingdale (251).

"It was an entire team effort," Newsome coach Chau Clark said. "They've worked really hard all season and they deserve this. They're going to have to work harder for regionals.

"This is great motivation for them. I think this is just the drive they need going into regionals."

Newsome's boys won three of the events, including the 500 free by Jacob Bukaweski and 100 backstroke by Tim Foster. The Wolves were second or third in five other events.

"This is really exciting because last year our districts were a lot easier and this year, with everything rearranged, we didn't know what to expect," Bukaweski said. "So, coming into a new district and winning is pretty impressive and we're excited.

"We have good energy going into the meet next week."

Wharton's boys won seven events, including double victories from Patrick Gilbreath (200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke) and Jordan Rees, who recently verbally committed to Louisville and celebrated his 18th birthday Friday, in the 50 and 100 free.

Bloomingdale's boys didn't win any of the swimming events Friday, but got first- and second-place points from Thursday's diving competition. Tampa Bay Tech's Teo Boscaino was the only boys swimmer not from Newsome or Wharton to win an event with his first-place finish in the 200 free.

The Wolves girls got a pair of victories from senior Kati Kyle in the 200 IM and 100 back. Kyle also swam a leg of the winning 400 free relay. And just like Bloomingdale's boys, Newsome's girls got valuable first- and second-place points from their divers.

"This will give us a boost because it's a very tough region and this will pick us up," Kyle said.

Wharton's second-place finish was aided by two-time winners Sarah Menendez (50 free, 100 fly) and Blair Kuethe (100 and 200 free). The Wildcats also won two of the three relays.

CLASS 3A-DISTRICT 5 DIVING: Plant senior Alex Hagen won her second-consecutive district diving title Friday at Clearwater's Long Center. Hagen, who finished third at state last year, recently claimed the overall Western Conference girls diving title.

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

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