Churchill's boys' and girls' teams set the tone for the afternoon in the opening events, taking first and second in the boys 200 medley relay and first through third in the girls 200 medley relays. The Bulldogs racked up triple-digit points over Bethesda-Chevy Chase winning 134-37 on the girls side and 114-57 on the boys.
(Bryan Flaherty/The Washington Post)
Despite fast swimming by the Barons' stars, Churchill won all 11 girls' events and eight of 11 boys' events. Graham Baird was the lone winner in the swimming events for B-CC, placing first in the 200 freestyle (1 minute 47.11 seconds) and 100 butterfly (53.59). Parker Rigaux won diving for B-CC with a season-high score of 172.60.
Austin Cole continued to shine for the Bulldogs, cruising to victories in the 50 freestyle (21.56) and 100 freestyle (48.92). For the girls, Natalya Ares made it look easy in the 200 freestyle (2:00.25) and 100 butterfly (1:01.09) as she logged the win for the Churchill girls.
Like many teams across the area, B-CC was missing some of their top swimmers due to illness. It may not have mattered against a dominant Churchill girls team who have hopes for a divisional and Maryland state title this year.
Tight race in the boys 500 freestyle between Churchill's Chris Wysocki (1st), Andy Rosenthal (2nd), and B-CC's Andrew Greenhalgh. (Bryan Flaherty/ The Washington Post)
“The key for us has been our team spirit and the way our swimmers cheer for each other on every race,” said first-year Churchill Head Coach Brandan Roddy. “We have the swimmers to beat [Whitman], we just need to build the confidence in our girls so they believe they can win when we see them next.”
If they are able to knock the defending champions off at divisionals or states, it will be in part because of Churchill's dominant diving corps, led by Jackie Stanton, today's winner with a score of 162.65.
On the other side, B-CC goes into a critical period for the teams, both 0-3, with Walter Johnson and Blair looming ahead.
“Our girls have a shot against Walter Johnson, and both teams will be in the mix against Blair,” Head Coach Jason Blanken said. “We're sitting in the back of our division, in the best division. We'll me better in the state format when our stars are just going for times and points.”
This will be the first year Montgomery County participated in the Maryland state championship meet.
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