Area swimming and diving teams competed in district meets last week. The top-eight individuals or relay teams in each event move on to regionals.
The Land O’ Lakes boys and girls each claimed Class 2A-District 5 championships on Oct. 29, the only area squads to win team titles.
It is the third straight championship for the Gator girls, who finished with 459.5 points to best Mitchell by 98.5 and cross-town rival Sunlake by 106.
While the girls completed a trifecta of district crowns, the Land O’ Lakes boys had to settle for runner-up status a year ago, fueling them to win in 2011. They finished with 374 points this year, topping the Seahawks by 32.5. Wesley Chapel took seventh place.
Land O’ Lakes brought home two individual district titles, but the boys’ overall depth prevailed. Cam Hilgenberg claimed the 50-yard freestyle crown in 22.57, while Jordan Wheeler was victorious in the 500 freestyle in 4:59.58.
Sunlake won the 200 medley and freestyle relays in 1:45.97 and 1:36.47, respectively. Diver Austin Wachsman took home diving champion status with a score of 331.7.
The Gator girls also won a pair of event titles. Krystin Demsher claimed the 500 freestyle in 5:25.17, and is also part of the 400 freestyle relay team that took first in 3:58.85.
Sunlake’s Savannah Mattox bested all competitors in the 100 freestyle with a time of 1:00.04. Courtney Meyer captured a title by finishing the 100 backstroke in 1:06.76.
At the 3A-4 meet on Oct. 26, Wharton outpaced area competitors from Freedom and Steinbrenner. The Wildcats girls finished as the district runner-up with 277 points, 194 behind Newsome’s pace. Steinbrenner took sixth and Freedom was ninth.
Wharton’s Dee Sopapong won the 100 breaststroke in 1:10, and is also part of the 200 medley and 200 freestyle relay teams that placed first in 1:57.89 and 1:44.76, respectively.
Fellow Wildcat Danielle Albright is the 200 freestyle champion, finishing in 1:56.07. The senior’s time of 54.14 was also good enough for second place in the 100 freestyle.
The Wharton boys took third place with 264 points, 106 behind Newsome. Freedom captured fifth, while Steinbrenner claimed sixth.
Wharton’s Chad Ankers won the 100 butterfly and 200 freestyle in 55.08 and 1:49.55, respectively. He is also on the 200 freestyle relay team that tied for first with George Jenkins in 1:36.73.
Steinbrenner’s Giorgi Meyer claimed the diving championship, finishing with 508.9 points.
Freedom’s Jordan Shollenberger finished as the 200 individual medley runner-up in 2:11.51, while teammate Marc Berson took second in the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke in 55.99 and 58.59, respectively.
In 3A-5 action, Wiregrass Ranch and Gaither found it difficult to match up in one of the toughest districts in the area on Oct. 27. The Bull girls finished in eighth place, while the Cowboy girls took ninth.
Athena Cimino is the only Wiregrass Ranch swimmer to win a title, taking first in the 50 freestyle in 24.42.
Academy at the Lakes competed in the 1A-7 meet on Oct. 27. Dillan Villavisanis finished as the boys 100 backstroke runner-up with a time of 1:05.91, less than half a second behind the championship pace of Tampa Prep’s Alex Blustein.
Bishop McLaughlin was at the 1A-3 meet on Oct. 25. Jenna Cropanese took home the girls 100 butterfly championship in 1:03.82, five seconds better than any competitor.
