Prep swimming: CSN boys, girls take second at district meet

Strong individual performances lifted Community School of Naples’ swimming and diving programs to second place finishes in both the boys and girls District 1A-9 championships at the FGCU Aquatic Center on Wednesday.

In a trying season held up by Hurricane Irma, the programs in Collier county have had fewer opportunities to compete at a higher level than the programs in Lee and Charlotte counties. With an advantage over programs such as head coach John King’s Seahawks, preparation moving forward will be critical for success at the regional meet and beyond.

“Our better swimmers were very tired today, so it will be tough to tell to see if we will be prepared well enough as we move ahead,” King said.

“We had several of our kids that were sick, and for our better swimmers it was all about getting to the next level and qualify. Next week, they’ll probably have to swim faster to make it to states and see what happens from there.”

Bishop Verot took top honors over Community School, besting the Seahawks and 523-310 in the boys competition and 502-361 on the girls’ side. The Seacrest Country Day boys also had 310 points, tying Community School for second.

Senior Seahawk swimmer Karen Liu had two impressive individual performances, winning the 200 individual medley in a time of 2:09.73, and won the 500 freestyle in 5:03.44, an event Liu is contesting in for the first time in her life this season.

“It was a really good meet for myself and it will give me a lot of confidence going into regionals and states,” Liu said.

Liu couldn’t say she was as prepared as she would like to be given the circumstances, and knows that more work is needed in order for her to make a return trip to the state meet.

“Even when you’re training, you can’t predict how well you can do unless it’s in competition mode. Knowing what it takes to be at states, I really want to get back there.”

Emma Feehery, one of many Seahawks who were under the weather, pulled out a victory in the 200 freestyle, checking in with a time of 1:55.49. Liu and Feehery, along with Mairead Coyle and Madison Feehery teamed up to win the 400 yard freestyle relay in a time of 3:46.30.

Katherine Carr took home top honors in the girls’ 1-meter diving for the Seahawks, with a total score of 393.90 points.

St. John Neumann’s Maddy Burt also had an impressive day in the water as the sophomore also claimed two event victories, winning the 50 free in 24.69 and the 100 butterfly in 57.84.

“I felt like my start was pretty good in the 50 free, and the 100 butterfly I felt like I could have taken it a little faster but it was still a good time,” Burt said.

A participant at the state meet a year ago as a freshman, Burt’s preparation took a hit as well, going a stretch of a few weeks without swimming at all. Knowing she has ground to make up yet, Burt will get after it in training leading up to the regional meet.

“The competition should be even better next week, and I know what to expect from last year. I’m going to train a lot harder to be ready to go.”

On the boys side, Seacrest Country Day senior Jarod Farrow was the standout locally, picking up victories in the 100 freestyle with a time of 51.94 and the 100 breaststroke in 1:03.49.

Bishop Verot’s 200 individual medley relay team consisting of Amanda Reeter, Shae Clifton, Erika Baumgardner and Hannah VanDress set a new meet record with a time of 1:56.87, topping an all-around dominant performance for the Vikings.

The other two district meets in the region take place this weekend, so the at-large berths based on time will not be decided until then. Twenty-four in each individual event and 16 relays advance to regionals, which will be at the Selby Aquatic Center in Sarasota on Oct. 27.

Class 1A-District 9 swimming championships

at FGCU Aquatic Center

Wednesday

Team scores

Boys

Bishop Verot 523, Community School of Naples 310, Seacrest Country Day 310, Canterbury 275, Oasis 170, St. John Neumann 98, Evangelical Christian 79, Southwest Florida Christian 47, Marco Island 22

Event results

200 Medley Relay: Bishop Verot (Garrett Stanley, Conor Cranfield, Mathew Strickland, Ryan Staunch), 1:47.28, 200 Freestyle: Brendan Peacock (ECS), 1:46.12, 200 Individual Medley: Garrett Stanley (BV), 2:02.56, 50 Freestyle: Camilo Lilleslatten (C), 24.28, Diving: Brandon Shepard (BV), 299.40, 100 Butterfly: Andrew Mills (ECS), 53.30, 100 Freestyle: Jarod Farrow (SCD), 51.94, 500 Freestyle: Ryan Staunch (BV), 4:39.2, 200 Freestyle Relay: Bishop Verot (Conor Cranfield, James Humpel, Philip Van Genderen, Nick Salzone), 1:36.82, 100 Backstroke: Garrett Stanley (BV), 55.88, 100 Breaststroke: Jarod Farrow (SCD), 1:03.49, 400 Freestyle Relay: Bishop Verot (Ryan Staunch, Garrett Stanley, Mathew Strickland, Nick Salzone), 3:29.55

Girls

Team scores

Bishop Verot 502, Community School of Naples 361, Oasis 218, Evangelical Christian 212, Marco Island 194, Canterbury 160, St. John Neumann 144, Seacrest Country Day 141, Southwest Florida Christian 15

Event results

200 Medley Relay: Bishop Verot (event record, Amanda Reeter, Shae Clifton, Erika Baumgardner, Hannah VanDress) 1:56.87, 200 Freestyle: Emma Feehery (CSN), 1:47.28, 200 Individual Medley: Karen Liu (CSN), 2:09.73, 50 Freestyle: Maddy Burt (SJN), 24.69, Diving: Katherine Carr (CSN), 393.90, 100 Butterfly: Maddy Burt (SJN), 57.84, 100 Freestyle: Antonela Caro (BV), 58.40, 500 Freestyle: Karen Liu (CSN), 5:03.44, 200 Freestyle Relay: Marco Island (Lisa Cottage-Ramnick, Lauren Faremouth, Susan Linn, Susan Faremouth), 1:47.97, 100 Backstroke: Amanda Reeter (BV), 1:02.86, 100 Breaststroke: Shae Clifton (BV), 1:07.90, 400 Freestyle Relay: Community School of Naples (Karen Liu, Mairead Coyle, Emma Feehery, Madison Feehery), 3:46.30