FORT LAUDERDALE, Florida, November 9. OVER the past weekend, the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Complex played host to plenty of scintillating swims as Florida showed off its high school talent in the 1A, 2A and 3A championship meets.
1A Championships
The Florida State 1A Championships boasted a trio of impressive state records, including a National Independent School Record.
The Bolles foursome of Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace, Victoria Richmond, Rebekah Epley and Caitlin Geary posted a state-record time of 1:34.53. Not only did that eclipse a 1992 state standard set by Pine Crest, it cleared the National Independent School record of 1:34.65 set by The Peddie School in 1995.
Pine Crest senior Joey Pedraza stood at the top of the individual list. The Cuban-born teenager broke the longest-standing state record. Pedraza clocked a 4:23.48 in the 500-yard free to surpass the 4:23.90 set by Cardinal Newman's Mat Cetlinski in 1982. The win gave Pedraza a double as he won the 200-yard IM earlier in the meet with a 1:52.16.
Gulliver Prep senior Julianne Lago set the second state record of the meet as she lowered her sister Jenny's 100-yard fly standard of 55.06 set in 2004 with a 54.51 to capture the title this year. She went on to pick up her second title with a 56.68 in the 100 back.
In the team competition, The Bolles School dominated the women's meet with 464 points, while Pine Crest High took second with 194 points and Gulliver Prep placed third with 161.5 points. Tampa Prep (107) and Lake Highland Prep (109) rounded out the top five teams.
The Bolles School also tore through the men's meet with 436 points for the title, while Pine Crest High finished second with 245.5 points and Jesuit High took third with 233 points. American Heritage (147) and Tampa Prep (142) closed out the top five teams.
Several other swimmers recorded deuces as well.
For the women, Bolles senior Caitlin Geary touched first in the 200 IM (2:02.33) and the 500 free (4:50.86). Tampa Prep senior Chelsea Nauta also took home the title in the 100 free (49.87) and the 200 free (1:46.37).
On the men's side, Jesuit senior Tommy Wyher placed first in the 100 fly (48.13) and 100 back (49.93). Another top swimmer proved to be Nimrod Shapira Bar-Or, a junior for Bolles, who won the 200 free in 1:38.37 and posted the fastest leadoff (45.49) in the 400 free relay win for his team.
In diving, First Academy senior Allison Barr claimed the women's one-meter title with 475.70 points, while Benjamin senior Jonathan Speed won the men's title with 473.55 points.
2A Championships
In a much closer competition than at the 1A level, where Bolles decimated everyone, Satellite High edged Boca Raton High, 173-172, for the women's championship. Meanwhile, Northeast High took third with 148 points, while Booker High finished fourth with 123 points and Bishop Kenny High placed fifth with 122 points.
The men's championship was much less competitive as Belen Jesuit Prep ran away with the title with 255 points. Satellite finished runner-up with 188.5 points, while Leon High took third with 136 points. Northeast High (111) and Seminole High (111) tied for fourth to close out the top five.
Although no state records fell at the meet, three swimmers doubled up in individual events. West Port senior Aaron Aiken touched first in the 100 free (45.42) and the 200 free (1:39.59) on the men's side, while Northeast sophomore Meg Romano and Washington senior Morgan Farrell each snared a pair of titles for the women.
Romano won the 100 free (49.94) and the 200 free (1:47.54), while Farrell placed first in the 100 fly (55.82) and 100 back (56.76).
As for diving, Nease sophomore Kirsty Shepler won the women's one-meter with 439.70 points, while Satellite senior Tyler Daly took home the men's one-meter with 462.55 points.
3A Championships
Another split championship occurred in 3A as Riverview High won the women's meet with 237 points and Douglas High took the men's with 257 points.
In the women's meet, Countryside High finished second with 172 points, while Lake Brantley High picked up third with 163.5 points. Buchholz High placed fourth with 151 points, while Gainesville finished fifth with 147 points.
For the men, Palm Harbor University placed second with 158 points, while Cypress Bay High took third with 145 points. John I. Leonard High (136) and Winter Park High (127.5) rounded out the top five.
A pair of swimmers pocketed a pair of individual titles in the 3A meet.
Riverview sophomore Corinne Showalter won the 200 free (1:47.34) and the 500 free (4:43.40), while Spruce Creek senior Matt Norton claimed the 200 IM (1:51.56) and the 500 free (4:31.66).
On the diving side, Miami Sunset senior Bianca Alvarez won the women's one-meter with 535.80 points, while Bartram Trail senior Stephen Andrews claimed the men's one-meter with 570.00 points.