Icy roads made for some blazing fast races, as teams had to rush the week before championships begin in several leagues across northern Virginia.
Northern and Northwest Region schools, along with Virginia AA and WMPSDDL teams, hurried to finish their meets, Friday night, before the snow began to cover the roads. The weather forced Maryland schools to cancel meets scheduled for Saturday morning due to the icy conditions, including a highly anticipated Georgetown Prep, Gonzaga, and Dematha tri-meet.
Battlefield girls, Patriot boys advance to 5-0 in AAA Cedar Run District
The Bobcat girls’ team (5-0) flexed their muscles against the young Patriot girls (4-1), winning 180-106, while the Battlefield boys (4-1) came up short, despite winning the majority of the night’s events, losing a close one to the Pioneers (5-0), 146-140.
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Raiders, Huskies split final meet of the regular season
Loudoun County High School boys (6-1) dealt Tuscarora High School its first loss of the season (6-1) in the last meet of the regular season.
The Huskies split the meet with the Raiders, as the Tuscarora girls won 150-136. The Huskies finished 5-2 in the regular season, Loudoun County finished 4-3.
The boys' teams are tied for second in the Dulles District. Loudoun's sole loss came at the hands of Potomac Falls (7-0) in the first meet of the season. They will all meet next Friday in the AA Dulles District Championship, held at Claude Moore.
Seniors Clark Courtner and Jake Koenig were double winners for the Raiders. Courtner finished first in the 200 freestyle (1:58.55) and 100 freestyle (51.64). Koenig won the 200 IM (2:06.17) and 100 butterfly (56.65).
Tuscarora's Samuel Presgraves won both his events easily, finishing the 500 freestyle in 5:13.62 and 100 backstroke in 1:04.74.
For the girls' team, Samuel's sister Amanda Presgraves was a double winner in the 500 freestyle (5:34.88) and 100 breaststroke (1:12.18). She was joined by Imelda Ogango who swam back-to-back events, winning both the the 100 butterfly (1:03.87) and 100 freestyle (59.83).
Senior Sophie Newton finished first for the Raiders in the 50 freestyle (25.24) and 100 backstroke (1:04.24).
The two teams battled for every point, including a close finish in the boys' 200 freestyle relay. The team of Nicholas McCord, Presgraves, Maxwell Waterman, Adam Stonebrooke just out-touched Courtner, Cameron Van Tol, Brandon Mckay, and Koenig, to give the win to the Huskies.
For complete results, click here.
Broad Run boys beat Freedom, Eagle girls' soar over Spartans
*summary provided by Broad Run High School
The Broad Run boys finished out their dual meet season Friday night with a win over Freedom, 166.5-115.5, while the Freedom girls prevailed over Broad Run, 162-124.
The Broad Run boys won all three relays and six of eight individual events. They were paced by double-winners Jacob Leidy, who won the 200 IM (2:07.82) and 100 fly (54.55), and Justin Allen winner of the 200 free (1:59.40) and 500 free (5:32.23).
Loudoun County's top two high school sprinters faced off Friday night as Broad Run's Alan Horback (left) raced against Freedom's Michael Harmon (center). Harmon's closing speed proved the difference as he edged out Horback, 22.52 to 22.72. (photo provided by Marianne Thiede)
Broad Run's Alan Horback took first in the 100 free (51.76), while Jack Morrisroe won the 100 back in Northwest Regionals qualifying time (58.67).
The marquee event of the night was the 50 free, with Loudoun County’s two top sprinters going head-to-head. Freedom’s Michael Harmon and Broad Run’s Horback. The race was tight until the closing yards, where Harmon edged Horback, 22.51 to 22.72.
Alexander Myers was Freedom’s other top finisher, winning the 100 breaststroke (1:08.31).
The Spartan boys qualified their third relay for Regionals when the team of Morrisroe, Allen, Horback and Leidy combined for a 3:32.23 in the 400 free relay. The Spartans also took first in the 200 medley relay with Michael Kopecky, Max Bailey, Allen and Morrisroe (1:48.45) and the 200 free relay with Bailey, Kopecky, Horback and Leidy (1:34.73).
Caroline Ruttenberg won two freestyle events for the Spartan girls. Swimming the 50 free for the first time this season, Ruttenberg took first from an outside lane with a 26.24. She also won the 200 free in 2:04.59.
Spartan freshman Emily Adams, also swimming in from the outside, won the 100 free by more than 2 seconds, in 58.28.
The Broad Run girls recorded their fastest time this season in the 200 free relay, with Ruttenberg and Adams teaming with Brooke Graham and Megan Thiede to place first with a 1:50.21.
Freedom’s Stephanie Clarke, Loudoun’s fastest backstroker this season, handily won the 100 back (1:00.72) as well as the 100 fly (1:01.34). Other first-place finishers for the Eagles were Katie Doherty in the 200 IM (2:22.13), Olivia Doherty in the 500 free (5:36.74), and Maggie Eaton in the 100 breaststroke (1:14.72).
Clarke, Eaton, Katie Doherty and Katie Johnson teamed up for a Regional qualifying time in the 200 medley relay (1:57.78), while Katie and Olivia Doherty combined with Clarke and Rebecca Mignone for the win in the 400 free relay (3:58.59).
Woodson boys' and girls' match scores, win over Lake Braddock
*summary provided by Woodson High School
The Woodson boys and girls held off Lake Braddock, winning with identical 184 – 131 scores, in an emotional Senior Night. Both Cavalier teams finished the season 7-0. Lake Braddock girls finished 5-2; while the boys fell to 3-4 on the season.
The Cavalier boys started off strong with the divers sweeping first through fourth place, on the way to qualifying all four athletes (Eric Pavord, Ben Shiesl, Matt Hubbard, and Declan Casey) for Regionals. It is the first time Woodson will send a full compliment of four male divers.
For Woodson, the boys' first place winners were Pavord, Bo Ilgenfritz in the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke, James Chung in the 100 free, and Alex Saffran in the 100 backstroke.
Woodson showed its depth on the boys' side, collecting six second place finishes in nine individual events. The Cavalier boys also went one, two in the 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays.
The girls' winners included Samantha Eldridge (diving), Leah Rogers (200 IM, 100 butterfly), Morgan Bui (100 backstroke), and Rachel Rogers (100 breaststroke). The lady Cavs also won the 200 medley and 200 freestyle relays, barely missing second place in the medley relay.
The Wooson seniors are heading into their final postseason. This group of senior boys graduate with a regular season record of 27-1 – including 24 in a row, while the girls boast a 25-3 mark (including a run of 23-1).
Woodson and Lake Braddock will meet again next week at the Patriot District Championship. The meet will kick off with girls' diving on Thursday, Jan. 26, followed by boys' diving the following morning, Jan. 27. Swimming prelims begin Friday evening, and will conclude with finals on Saturday night, Jan. 28
Georgetown Prep, Holy Cross win over Woodberry, Oakcrest
Woodberry Forest showed off its stars on Friday, but fell 102-84 to Georgetown's young and talented team.
Woodberry won seven of twelve events. Double winners for the Tigers were senior Heath Allen in the 200 freestyle (1:50.84) and 100 breaststroke (1:02.58) and Zach Switzer in the 200 IM (1:57.00) and 100 backstroke (54.77). James Bondurant and Nicholas Hoffman also contributed, winning the 100 butterfly (57.48) and 100 freestyle (50.60), respectively.
Freshman Carsten Vissering starred for Prep, winning the 50 free (23.32) and 500 free (4:59.24).
Georgetown was propelled by its depth, taking second in six of eight individual swimming events, and third in five of the eight events.
That depth came together in the freestyle relays, the team of Stephen Spencer, Carl St. John, Brandon Goldstein, and Grant Goddard winning the 200 free relay (1:35.45), and Adrian Lin, Vissering, Goldstein, and St. John combining to win the 400 free relay (3:21.97).
Woodberry won the 200 medley in 1:41.21. The team of Switzer, Allen, Bondurant, and Hoffman bested Georgetown Prep's relay by exactly one second.
For complete results, click here.
Holy Cross picked up another win, beating Oakcrest 97-66. Holy Cross placed first in all twelve events.
Jessica Schipani was the lone double winner for the Tartans. She won the 200 freestyle in 2:08.61 and 500 freestyle in 5:44.34.
Other winners were Kelsey Donahue in the 200 IM (2:24.87), Kendall Crosby in the 50 freestyle (28.56), Taylor Hicks in the 100 butterfly (1:06.43), Bridget MacDonald in the 100 freestyle (1:03.90), Alexandra Rhoades in the 100 backstroke (1:10.19), and Sabrina Ness in the 100 breaststroke (1:21.15).
Kaitlin Carroll and Alessandra Barone placed first, second in diving for Holy Cross.
For complete results, click here.
Oakton Swims a Perfect 7-0 Season
*summary provided by Oakton High School
Oakton High School’s varsity swim and dive teams took to the water in the last dual meet of the season against Robinson, Friday night, at Audrey Moore RECenter.
The Oakton Cougars beat Robinson for the third time this season. The boys won 190 – 125, and the girls won 190 – 124, resulting in an undefeated season for the Oakton Cougars with seven wins each.
Denny Nguyen took first for the team in 100 backstroke and second in 100 butterfly. Philip Hu finished first in 200 individual medley. Carter Sharer placed first in 50 freestyle. Conor Murphy finished first in 100 freestyle. Brian Phillips placed first in 500 freestyle. Ricky Menendez placed first in 100 breaststroke.
Ashley Doran placed first in 50 freestyle and 100 backstroke. Janet Hu finished first in 100 butterfly. Kendall Lawhorn took first in 500 freestyle. Laura Branton finished first in 100 breaststroke.
“We worked so hard this year as a team, and we all were so close. A lot of credit goes to our new coaches. They were so supportive and wanted us to succeed and brought a lot of spirit to the team,” said junior Melissa Shebat. “I really think we are going to do amazing in the post season!”
Oakton’s dive team continued to be a consistently strong force, as Joe LeBerre placed second, and Andy Berger took fourth for the boys.
Oakton returns to the pool for the Concorde District Championship next weekend, January 27 & 28, at Cub Run.
Yorktown faces Arlington rival W-L in the brand new YHS Pool
*summary provided by Yorktown High School
The Yorktown swim and dive teams had their first meets in the new YHS pool, facing cross-town rival Washington-Lee. Both YHS and W-L were undefeated before meeting Friday, January 20. At the end of the night, the YHS girls emerged with a win to remain undefeated for the season with a 7-0 record. The Patriot boys battled W-L in a close meet, but ultimately lost, leaving them with a 6-1 record for the season.
The boys lost their meet with a final score of 154-161, but had many fast swims and challenged the W-L team with their depth even in races where they did not have first place finishers.
Max Fish was a double winner with first place finishes in the 100 free and 100 breast events. Will Tarkenton finished first in the 200 IM. The boys’ 200 medley relay also finished first, Tarkenton, Fish, David Emson, and Jason Henley combining for the win.
The girls crushed, winning 226-89, with first place finishes in every event. Double wins came from Stephanie Romano (200 free, 500 free), Ellie Belilos (100 fly, 100 free), and Abby Young (200 IM, 100 back).
Other individual event winners were Elena Bavolack (diving), Mason Nassetta (50 free) and Lauren Allard (100 breast). The girls also won each of the relays: 200 medley relay (Young, Rachel Robertson, Belilos, Kirby Nassetta); 200 free relay (Romano, Belilos, M. Nassetta, Young); and 400 free relay (Romano, Amanda Didawick, Allard, K. Nassetta).
Both the Patriots and Generals will return to the pool next weekend for the National District Championship meet, which will be held at the new Yorktown pool. The dive events will be held on Thursday, January 26. Swim preliminaries will take place on Friday, January 27 with finals on Saturday, January 28.
O'Connell beats Cathedral, St. Albans
Bishop O'Connell's girls' team squeaked past National Cathedral, 90.5-79.5.
The lady Knights were led by senior Elena Marsili, the only double-winner for O'Connell against Cathedral. She finished first in the 200 IM (2:18.94) and 100 breaststroke (1:14.96). Hannah Gavin finished first in the 50 free in 38.59 and Katie Kinsella won the 100 backstroke in 1:08.34.
O'Connell and Cathedral split the individual events. For Cathedral, Nicole Orme won both the 200 freestyle (2:04.16) and 500 freestyle (5:29.47). Elizabeth Longosz won the 100 butterfly (1:07.93) and Carolyn Gigot won the 100 freestyle (1:00.24). Orme and Longosz teamed with Cara Murphy and Elinor Hanley to win the 200 free relay.
The difference in the meet was the relays. O'Connell won two of three, along with third place points in each.
For complete results, click here.
On the boys' side of the meet, O'Connell rolled, winning nine of 11 events on the way to a 106.5-63.5 thrashing.
Michael Luciani won both the 100 freestyle (51.47) and 200 freestyle (1:53.44) for the Knights. O'Connell's other double winner was Don Tucker in the 200 IM (2:11.24) and 100 backstroke (58.09). Christian Tiernan finished second to teammate, Luciani, in the 100 free, but took first place in the 50 free (23.86).
Nicholas Nataro and Christopher Parrino were the lone winners for St. Albans. Nataro won the 100 butterfly in 59.82, while Parrino won the 100 breast in 1:11.15.
O'Connell's relays dominated. Only the 200 freestyle relay was even close, but the team of Tyler Fritz, Daniel Hughes, Chris Outlaw, and PJ Dibenedetto held off St. Alban's to win 1:37.29 to 1:38.14.
For complete results, click here.
Other results:
Falls Church finishes season in third behind Yorktown and W-L; boys win 161-154 over Stuart, girls crush 198-112.
Madison (6-1) concludes season by winning big over Marshall; boys win 178-136, girls win 193-119.
Chantilly girls (6-1) head into Concorde District Championships on a high note, 177.5137.5; boys roll 236.5-78.5 over Centreville.
If you're team would like to be included in this week's wrap-up, please have your coach or parent submit a summary and/or meet results.