MANASSAS, Virginia, Feb. 20. FIVE–four individual and one relay–fell during the Virginia State Independent Swimming and Diving Championships (VSIS) Feb. 17-18 in Manassas. The meet was broadcast LIVE and on-demand at SwimmingWorld.TV.
Nansemond-Suffolk senior Gabrielle Bishop lowered the VSIS girls 200 free record to 1:49.25 and also took first in the 100 fly (56.08). Sommer Harris, a sophomore at St. Catherine's, took the girls 100 breast standard to 1:04.06. The only relay record fell at the hands of The Collegiate School's girls 200 medley relay. Sophomore Ashton Pollard, freshmen Campbell Brewer and Caroline Pollard, with junior Chandler Makepeace combined for a 1:50.01, just ahead of St. Catherine's quartet of juniors Chloe Thompson, and Jane Nester, eighth-grader Taylor Allen and Harris (1:50.17).
Woodberry Forest junior Zach Switzer was responsible for the two boys VSIS record. He posted times of 50.02 in the 100 back and 1:50.72 in the 200 IM.
The Collegiate School was the girls team champion, scoring 331 points. St. Catherine's finished second (290). Norfolk Academy grabbed third (170) in a tight battle with Trinity Episcopal (167) and Hampton Roads Academy (161).
Collegiate swept the relay events. Makepeace, senior Maggie Cuthbert, Brewer and sophomore Mary Katherine Kish triumped in the 200 free relay (1:39.54); both Pollards joined Cuthbert and Kish for the 400 free relay win (3:37.27). Individually, Ashton Pollard picked up victories in the 100 back (58.12) and 200 IM (2:06.58), and Kish was tops in the 500 free (4:56.10).
Seton senior Alex Doonis splashed her way to a first-place 24.39 in the 50 free. Highland eighth grader Reni Moshos defeated Madeira senior Brittney Jansen, 52.55-52.71. The diving title was claimed by Steward sophomore Keaton Busser (330.80 points).
Woodberry Forest emerged from the boys competition with the team title, scoring 222 points. The next four placings were determined by just five points: Hampton Roads Academy, 202; Bishop O'Connell and Collegiate School tied for third with 201; and St. Christopher's, 197.
Woodberry Forest collected two of the three relay wins. Switzer, seniors Heath Allen and Nick Hoffman plus junior Bear Bondurant cruised to a 1:34.81 in the 200 medley relay and a 3:12.51 in the 400 free relay.
Bishop O'Connell's quartet of sophomore Christian Tiernan, juniors Don Tucker and Michael Luciani, plus senior P.J. DiBenedetto topped Fork Union's team of sophomore Ali Khalafalla, senior Luis Arroyo and juniors Mohamed Saleh and Michael Guerci in the 200 free relay, 1:27.64-1:27.73.
Norfolk senior Ben Leach sprinted ahead of Steward junior Henry Bassett for the 50 free victory, 21.39-21.45, with Collegiate senior Wil Coor 3-hundreths in back (21.48). Coor grabbed the 100 free title (46.15). Norcross senior Austin Criss grabbed the win in the 200 free (1:43.43) and Benedictine College Prep senior Travis Kerner was first in the 500 free (4:39.92).
Hampton Roads senior Hollis Allen's 58.64 in the 100 breast earned him the top spot on the podium stand, as did Henry Fauls' 50.19 in the 100 fly. Jack Gigliotti, a seophomore at O'Connell, was the top diver with his 373.75 points.
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