CCAC swim meet: Cat, fish! Cougars and Sharks win conference swim meet

The Barron Collier boys swim team celebrated a big victory by wading in the pool Saturday afternoon at the Frank Norris Aquatics Center. And it seemed appropriate after their impressive performance in the water in the Collier County Athletic Conference meet when the Cougars did anything but wade.

The Cougars won eight first-place ribbons in winning the annual county conference meet, with the district swim meets on the horizon. Barron Collier eventually had a whopping 571 points, beating runner-up Gulf Coast by 102 points. 

And the Cougars claimed the Log for the overall title for the second straight year, edging the Shark

Gulf Coast won the girls meet, beating out Barron Collier by 44 points.

Both teams have only one more meet before the district meets from Oct. 30-Nov.2.

“We had personal records from almost everyone,” said Barron coach Matthew Nelson. “We asked a lot of people to compete in events that were not their best, and they all performed well. They all made the top 2. Meanwhile, we also got some key points from the bottom 2. It was a total team effort.”

Nelson said he especially liked the efforts of Anton Sunyak, Will Eriksson and Alex Alekov, just to name a few.

Mason Laur won the 100 butterfly and 200 individual medley for the Cougars. Barron’s Jacob Connor won the 50 freestyle, Eriksson won the 100 backstroke and Andrew Garner took home a victory in the 100 free and 100 breaststroke.

The Cougars 200 medley relay team also won its race.

In one of the first events of the day Peter Learned of Barron Collier won at 1-meter diving.

For Gulf Coast, Connor French won the 500 free.

Next week, Barron Collier has a dual meet at Winter Park. Then the Cougars compete in the diving district Oct. 30 at Florida Gulf Coast University and Oct. 31 in the swimming district at Eagle Lakes Community Park.

Colton Rasmussen of Palmetto Ridge won the 200 freestyle.

In the girls meet, the Sharks won six events and were especially strong in the freestyle races. But it was the demeanor of everyone on the team that pleased coach Rachel Elliott the most.

“We swam above and beyond what anyone couldn’t expect today,” Elliott said. “We couldn’t have asked for more from the kids. We knew we couldn’t accomplish what we wanted without everyone being behind each other. There’s no empty tank out there. The teammates supported each other all the way.”

Elliott especially praised freshmen like Carinn Bethea, who won the 100 and 200 freestyles and also anchored two Shark relay teams that were victorious. Olivia Owens won the 100 butterfly as well for the Sharks, and Gulf Coast later on won the 200 medley relay.

Near the end of the meet, Gulf Coast’s Rachel Moran won the 100 breaststroke.

Next up for Gulf Coast: a dual meet next week before the district meet Nov. 2 in Sarasota.

For Barron Collier, Zoe Hendrickx triumphed in the 200 individual medley and 500 freestyle, Lauren Folz was the champion in 1-meter diving, and Madison Feehery won the 50 free.

“Zoe had not swum in the 500 freestyle. She usually swims in the backstroke,” Nelson said. “But we knew we’d probably do well there without her. So she went in the 500 free, and she won. There were so many personal bests, that it’s hard to name names or single people out.”

Naples High’s Elizabeth Chevaldova won the 100 backstroke.

CCAC SWIM MEET

GIRLS

Team scores:

Gulf Coast 535, Barron Collier 491, Naples 467, Palmetto Ridge 154, Lely 107, Golden Gate 1

Individual results:

• 200 Medley Relay – 1. Gulf Coast, 1:51.24.
• 200 Freestyle – 1. Carinn Bethea (GC), 1:56.66.
• 200 Individual Medley – 1. Zoe Hendrickx (BC), 2:69.35.
• 50 Freestyle – 1. Madison Feehery (BC), 24.80.
• Diving – 1. Lauren Folz (BC), 333.80.
• 100 Butterfly – 1. Olivia Owens (GC), 59.10.
• 100 Freestyle – 1. Carinn Bethea (GC), 53.95.
• 500 Freestyle – Zoe Hendrickx (BC), 5:17.46.
• 200 Freestyle Relay – 1. Gulf Coast, 1:42.48.
• 100 Breaststroke – 1. Rachel Moran (GC), 1:06.66.
• 100 Backstroke – 1. Elizabeth Chevaldova (N), 1:01.87.
• 400 Freestyle Relay – 1. Barron Collier, 3:39.87.

BOYS

Team scores:

Barron Collier 571, Gulf Coast 469, Naples 298 ½, Palmetto Ridge 240 ½, Lely 143, Golden Gate 72

Individual results:

• 200 Medley Relay – 1. Barron Collier, 1:40.26.
• 200 Freestyle – 1. Colton Rasmussen (PR), 1:47.63.
• 200 Individual Medley – 1. Mason Laur (BC), 1:54.78.
• 50 Freestyle – 1. Jacob Connor (BC), 22.59.
• Diving – 1. Peter Learned (BC), 2:44.75.
• 100 Butterfly – 1. Mason Laur (BC), 50.63.
• 100 Freestyle – 1. Andrew Garner (BC), 47.08.
• 500 Freestyle – 1. Connor French (GC), 5:01.78.
• 200 Freestyle Relay – 1. Gulf Coast, 1:34.18.
• 100 Backstroke – 1. William Eriksson (BC), 54.54.
• 100 Breaststroke – 1. Andrew Garner (BC), 57.11.
• 400 Freestyle Relay – 1. Barron Collier, 3:15.79.