Collegiate Ladies, Saint Christopher Boys Look Sharp as State-Title Defenses Await
Usually the outcomes of the League of Impartial Colleges and Virginia Prep League swim and dive championships are a precursor to the VISAA championship a fortnight later. Saturday, in a boisterous competitors held in Richmond at St. Catherine’s Kenny Middle, the Collegiate ladies and Saint Christopher boys, VISAA state champions the final two years, added third straight league titles to their storied resumes.
On the ladies’ aspect, the hosts held a scant 207-205 lead over Collegiate’s Cougars on the first break, trailed by simply 12 on the second pause (388-376) earlier than Collegiate superiority within the backstroke, breaststroke and 400 free relay sealed the Cougar win, 540-487. Collegiate boys led St. Christopher’s Saints 150-146 by way of the 50 free earlier than the purple and grey surged to guide Trinity 309-275 on the second break, in the end rolling to a 438-360 conquer the Titans. Collegiate completed third with 339.
Emory DeGuenther, ladies meet excessive level winner, led the way in which for the Cougars successful the five hundred yard freestyle in meet document (4:57.39), the 100 butterfly (55.79) and was part of two of Collegiate’s meet document relays. DeGuenther’s companions on the 200 medley relay (1:46.22) have been Isabella Little, Savannah Harris and Maddie Jewett.
Swimming with 400 free relay teammates Valentina Linkonis, Jasper Jones and Elizabeth Cribbs, sophomore DeGuenther clocked a 51.10 closing cut up, the quickest within the discipline by greater than a second and a half, to complete in 3:32.41. Collegiate’s third document setting quartet got here within the 200 free relay when Linkonis, Amelia Chen, Little and Jones closed the proceedings with a swift 1:36.93.
St. Christopher’s used its depth to spread-eagle the sector successful two relays and two particular person occasions whereas scoring closely in others. Junior Alex Gertner took the 200 free title (1:42.36) and sophomore Ryan Smith the 100 fly (50.60) earlier than pairing with Edward Johnson and Ben Butterfield to take the 200 relay (1:25.89) and Ben Franks and Johnson to tie the meet document within the 400 free relay (3:10.60).
There was a three-way tie for boy excessive level awards. Winners have been Patrick Puzon (Trinity) and Collegiate athletes Charlie Mayr and JD Chen. Puzon claimed the 50 and 100 yard freestyles successful in 20.80 and 46.16 and anchoring the Titans 200 free relay in jaw dropping 19.83.
Mayr gained the 200 IM handily in 1:52.41 and simply missed the VPL document within the 500 free clocking a 4:35.11 whereas swimming on two second place relays. Sophomore Chen gained Friday’s 1-meter diving competitors, the 100 breast (58.48) when STAB’s Max Moore was disqualified. Like Mayr he swam on two second place relays.
VISAA swim and dive championships are scheduled for Friday and Saturday, February 16 and 17, on the Christiansburg Aquatic Middle in Christiansburg.
