Archives > Sports > Schools
Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
RSS
Share
Swimming and diving: Carroll rules the pool
By Justin Thomas, jthomas@starlocalnews.com
There were 24 final events Friday and Saturday at the UIL Class 5A Region II Swimming and Diving Championships at the Keller Natatorium.
Southlake Carroll medaled in 22 of them.
The Dragons and Lady Dragons also combined for gold in more than half (13) of the finals as they cruised to a pair of regional titles.
"It was a great meet," said Kevin Murphy, Carroll head coach. "We're very pleased. Nothing is ever going to work out 100 percent like you want it. But we had every kid reach the finals and had 52-of-60 in the top eight. And those other eight were in the top 16. We should be in position to go to Austin with a good shot of winning both state titles."
In all, Carroll will send 11 girls, 10 boys and all six of its relays to state after call-ups.
The Lady Dragons (585) more than doubled the total of their closest competitor Flower Mound (266.5), while the Dragons (563) nearly accomplished the same feat over the second-place Jaguars (287). Keller Central followed in third in girls and fourth in boys, while Mansfield took third in boys and fourth in girls.
Other local finishers on the girls side included Marcus (sixth, 155), Coppell (seventh, 127.5), Hebron (ninth, 102), Lewisville (13th, 41) and R.L. Turner (19th, 3).
The final boys standings saw Hebron in sixth (156), Coppell in ninth (107), Lewisville in 11th (76) and Marcus in 13th (58).
"There were a lot of good swimmers out there and it was a tough battle," Murphy said. "I don't think the scores reflect how good the competition was. It may look like Carroll just bowled over the competition, but that really wasn't the case. There were a bunch of other relays and individuals that are headed to state and I think that made all of us faster."
After coming up just short in the meet's opening race (the girls 200-yard medley relay), Carroll responded to win gold in 4-of-5 relays to follow, including the boys 200 medley (Jonathan Roberts, John Remetta, Jake Tovey and Jacob Elieson; 1:33.30), the girls 200 free (Lindsay Schultz, Emily Zapinski, Ashlin Anderson and Emily Gibson; 1:36.46), the girls 400 free (Schultz, Zapinski, Alexa Baran and Rebecca Upton; 3:30.34) and the boys 400 free (Roberts, Remetta, Tovey and Austin Nguyenphu; 3:07.35),
Had there been a boys breaststroke relay, Carroll likely would have dominated that event as well as Nguyenphu (57.70), Remetta (58.06) and Austin Arkes (58.70) combined to sweep the medals in the 100.
Roberts, meanwhile, was named the meet's Outstanding Swimmer.
Carroll's success wasn't limited to in the pool, though, as Bryce Klein (598.65) earned Outstanding Diving honors after defeating his closest competitor by more than 100 points. Carroll's Nathaniel Hernandez finished third (471.25).
Lauren Crown earned the same honor on the girls side (468.45), where teammate Larking Papa won bronze (415.50). Carroll's Carolyn Hyorchk was also named Girls Diving Coach of the Year.
Other boys winning gold were Roberts in the 200 free (1:37.79) and 500 free (4:23.62), and Klein in diving (598.65).
Girls winners were Zapinski in the 200 free (1:50.67), Gibson in the 50 free (23.66) and 100 butterfly (55.19), Crown in diving (468.45) and Schultz in the 100 free (51.56).
"We should have the biggest, strongest team in Austin," Murphy said.
"A couple of our girls and three of our boys weren't shaved down at regionals," Murphy said. "They'll undoubtedly swim faster. And in the past, we've been very successful at going faster or as fast as we did at regionals. We need to hold our positions and move forward, but it's going to be tough."
Coppell's scoring was fueled by Hayden Henry, who edged out a pair of Dragons for gold in the 200 individual medley (1:51.45) where he broke his own school record and set a pool mark.
"It was a good race, but he was in control most of the way," said Patrick Henry, Coppell head coach.
Hayden will be making his second consecutive appearance at state. Last year, he finished second at regionals but still earned the fifth seed and finished fifth in Austin.
"Last year, he was in his fast suit and was totally shaved and tapered for regionals," Patrick added. "This year, he wasn't in his fast suit and was only half shaved and tapered. We thought we could hold a little back and still get there this time and he swam very confidently."
Patrick also credited Lauren Kuechler's performance, as she set a personal best in the 100 butterfly, where she finished sixth, in addition to placing sixth in the 200 IM.
Freshman Savannah Henry, meanwhile, took sixth in the backstroke, while all of the relay teams advanced to the finals.
"They did very well," Patrick said. "The goal in the prelims is to finish in the top eight, because then you are guaranteed at least 22 points for reaching the finals. We were very pleased with how everyone swam.
"Two years ago, we didn't have anyone seeded in the finals. Now, we're winning events and putting our relays in the top eight. Overall, Hayden was outstanding, and I think we really took some great steps forward as a team. It's really exciting."
Patrick added Hayden has a positive outlook entering state and is more comfortable after continuing to gain experience in high-level meets.
Hebron, meanwhile, produced four individual medals with Joshua Clothier touching first in the boys 50 free (21.02) and 100 free (46.04) and Carolina Korst adding silver in the 200 backstroke (56.43) and bronze in the 100 butterfly (57.12).
The Hawks 200 free relay team also picked up a bronze (1:26.73).
Flower Mound will be sending at least two to Austin after Alecia McGillivray picked up first in the girls 500 free (4:55.59) and Jenna Beaury achieved the same in the 100 breaststroke (1:04.64).
Kristen Whitaker also notched bronze for the Lady Jaguars in the girls 50 free (24.04), while Marcus' Mackenzie Willborn settled for silver in girls diving (449.30).
Flower Mound's relays helped procure its second-place team finishes as the Jags grabbed third in the 400 free and 200 medley.
Other local clubs were in action at the Class 4A Region III Championships in Frisco.
The Colony (124) placed fifth on the boys side, where Frisco Wakeland (428) earned first, with Creekview (80) in 11th and Newman Smith in 12th (60).
The Lady Cougars (52) finished 14th behind first-place Highland Park (441) with Smith in 10th (76) and Creekview in 21st (12).
Individually, the Cougars top performers included Billy Lawson, who took third in the 100 fly (54.55) and fifth in the 100 backstroke (56.41), while Joseph Yi placed eighth in the 200 IM (2:09.50).
For the Lady Trojans, Brittany Naon finished fourth (240.60) in girls diving with Gabriella Sanchez (158.85) and Brittany Kauffman (116.35) in seventh and ninth, respectively.
On the boys side, Connor Shackelford (389.30) picked up a silver medal after placing just behind Liberty's Matthew Phillip (425.60). Creekview's Wes Alexander finished fourth (343.05). Smith's Adrien Lewis nabbed sixth in the 100 breaststroke (1:03.81).
UIL Class 5A Region II Championships
Friday and Saturday at the Keller Natatorium
Final Standings (Local only)
Boys
1. Southlake Carroll - 653
2. Flower Mound - 287
6. Hebron - 156
9. Coppell - 107
11. Lewisville - 76
13. Marcus - 58
Girls
1 Southlake Carroll - 585
2. Flower Mound - 266.5
6. Marcus - 155
7. Coppell - 127.5
9. Hebron - 102
13. Lewisville - 41
19. R.L. Turner - 3
Individual medalists:
Carroll
1. Boys 200 medley relay
1. Emily Zapinski, girls 200 free
1. Jonathan Roberts, boys 200 free
1. Emily Gibson, girls 50 free
1. Lauren Crown, girls diving
1. Bryce Klein, boys diving
1. Emily Gibson, girls 100 fly
1. Lindsay Schultz, girls 100 free
1. Jonathan Roberts, boys 500 free
1. Girls 200 free relay
1. Austin Nguyenphu, boys 100 breaststroke
1. Girls 400 free relay
1. Boys 400 free relay
2. Girls 200 medley relay
2. John Remetta, boys 200 IM
2. Sydney Wheeler, girls 100 fly
2. Jake Tovey, boys 100 fly
2. Grayson Magruder, boys 100 free
2. Emily Zapinski, girls 500 free
2. Girls 200 free relay
2. Boys 200 free relay
2. Jake Tovey, 100 back
2. John Remetta, boys 100 breaststroke
3. Rebecca Upton, girls 200 free
3. Connor Dobbs, boys 200 free
3. Austin Nguyenphu, boys 200 IM
3. Grayson Magruder, boys 50 free
3. Larkin Papa, girls diving
3. Nathaniel Hernandez, boys diving
3. Rebecca Upton, girls 500 free
3. Connor Dobbs, boys 500 free
3. MacKenzie Leonard, girls 100 breaststroke
3. Austin Arkes, boys 100 breaststroke
Coppell
1. Hayden Henry, boys 200 IM
Flower Mound
1. Alecia McGillivray, girls 500 free
1. Jenna Beaury, girls 100 breaststroke
3. Boys 200 medley relay
3. Kristen Whitaker, girls 50 free
3. Boys 400 free relay
Hebron
1. Joshua Clothier, boys 50 free
1. Joshua Clothier, boys 100 free
2. Caroline Korst, girls 200 back
3. Caroline Korst, girls 100 fly
3. Boys 200 free relay
Marcus
2. Mackenzie Willborn, girls diving
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
You must register with a valid email to post comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here:
Become a Registered User
- Return to: Hebron «
- Home «
- Top of Page ^
