The Starr’s Mill Panthers won their sixth straight county swim title last Thursday at the Washington Park pool. The Panthers out-distanced the other five county schools with a total of 671.50 points, beating rival McIntosh, which finished second with 653 points.

“ We were very proud of our team not only in the pool, but also cheering on their teammates in every race, it was great to see how this team really came together to support each other,” said Coach Joyce Larson.

The Lady Panthers won eight out of 11 events and in the process set three new county records. The Panther women won all three relays. Leading the way for the Panthers was Junior Lauren Cartwright with double wins in the 200 individual medley and set the new county record in the 100 breaststroke (1:10.05). In addition, she was a member of the 400 freestyle relay team that also set a new county record (3:47.54). Other members of that relay team were senior Mackenzie Garrot, freshman Lauren Scott, and freshman Katie Haycraft. Members of the 200 freestyle relay team of Garrot, Haycraft, sophomore Sarah Larson, and freshman Bailey Cartwright also set a new county record (1:45.28), and the 200 medley relay of Bailey Cartwright, Lauren Cartwright, Scott, and Larson completed the sweep of the women’s relays.

The other first place finishers were all freshmen. Scott won the 200 freestyle, Katie Haycraft the 500 freestyle and Bailey Cartwright the 100 backstroke. Other ladies finishing in the top five were; senior Georgia Highsmith, second in the 100 backstroke and third in the 100 freestyle, Haycraft, second in the 200 freestyle, Bailey Cartwright, second in the 50 Freestyle, Scott, second in the 100 butterfly, junior Bailey Garrot, third in the 200 individual medley and fourth in the 100 butterfly, Larson, second in the 100 freestyle and third in the 50 freestyle, sophomore Megan Copeland, third in the 500 freestyle and fourth in the 200 freestyle, junior Allison DelleDonne, fifth in the 200 freestyle, freshman Lauren Beatty, fourth in the 200 individual medley, sophomore Kelly Adams, fifth in the 100 backstroke, senior Mackenzie Garrot, third in the 100 breaststroke, freshman Rebecca Goodman, fourth in the 100 breaststroke, junior Hanna Tompkins, fifth in the 100 breaststroke and junior Kristen Schroder, second in the medley relay and third in both the 200 and 400 freestyle relays.

On the men’s side senior Scott Adams placed second in both the 100 freestyle and the 100 backstroke. Freshman Matt Boyle finished second in the 100 butterfly and third in the 500 freestyle. The men’s 200 freestyle relay and 200 medley team both finished second. Members of those teams include; Adams, senior Cullen Lorensen, junior Alex Tovani, senior Danny Clasen, junior Austin Ellyson and Boyle. Other men that finished in the top five were; Tovani, third in the 50 freestyle, senior Winston Fredrick, third in the 200 freestyle, senior Michael Burmeister, second in the 100 Breaststroke, and Ellyson, third in the 100 breaststroke.

The McIntosh boys captured first place by 48 points over Starr’s Mill, while the girls placed second, 67.5 points behind the Lady Panthers.

McIntosh senior Thomas Lucak went home with four first place medals around his neck, and junior Nicole Roddenberry claimed two first place finishes for the day. Roddenberry broke her own county record with a time of 25.60 in the women’s 50 freestyle. She holds two additional county records for the 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke.

Lucak had commanding finishes in the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle. Sophomore Matt Manley added a first in the 200 freestyle, with senior Savinien Leblond in second. Senior Bryan Mitchell took second in the 200 individual medley, trailed closely by freshman Alex Harmon in third. Harmon also captured second in the grueling 500 freestyle event.

McIntosh swimmers Lucak, Mitchell, Harmon and Day won the meet’s opening 200 medley relay and the men’s closing event, the 400 freestyle relay, both with state qualifying times. A McIntosh team also took third in the 400 freestyle relay (Manley and seniors Scott Druskatt, Matt Lee and Leblond).

Mitchell and Day finished first and third in the 100 breaststroke, but both were disqualified by one of the judges in a controversial decision regarding kick style, quelling McIntosh’s momentum and an opportunity for the combined championship. Neither swimmer had ever been disqualified for this event before, and no other competitor in the event was disqualified.

Roddenberry led the women with her first place finishes in the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle. Junior Rose Tortora added a second in the 500 freestyle and a third in the 200 freestyle, and sophomore Keaton Hannon placed second in the 200 individual medley and third in the 100 butterfly. The best relay finish for the women was a second-place in the 200 freestyle relay (Roddenberry, Hannon, senior Bailey Abercrombie and freshman Sarah Trapaga).

Whitewater’s boys placed third overall, while the girls placed fourth. These finishes were good enough for a third place overall finish. Jared Toro, Kyle Freiz, Peter Menke and David Menchinger took first in the 200 freestyle relay and second in the 400 freestyle relay. This group of boys have qualified for state in all three relays. Menchinger took first in the 200 individual medley and 500 freestyle qualifying for state in both. Toro came in second in the 50 freestyle and Menke came in third. Menke also came in first in the 100 breaststroke. Menchinger is currently qualified for the state meet in eight events.

Also earning points for the team were; Grace Abshire, Catherine Clark, Haley Dziejowski, Chris Edwards, Tanya Feilke, Angie Forero, Megan Griffith, Toby King, Brandon Mason, Kelly Menchinger, Allison Moore, Morgan Seckinger, Sarah Turner, Megan Bidelman, Dustin Brown, Teresa Hill, Jessica Johnson, Chad Lawrence, Lauren Roberts, Candice Smith, Rachel Worrell, Jena Adam, Catherine Groover, Matt Rose and Matt Schreiner.

Top three finishers for Fayette County were team captain Katelyn Davis, who swam a lifetime best time of 59.43 in the 100 fly finishing in first place. Davis also placed second in the 100 breaststroke. Sean Phillips placed third in the 100 fly with a season best time of 1:03.90. Sophomore John Daley placed third in the 100 backstroke with a season best time of 1:05.94. The girl’s free relay placed fourth with a 1:54.52 narrowly missing the state cut time of 1:54.00.

Fayette County High’s boy’s medley relay consisting of Daley, freshman David Gridley, Phillips, and junior Mark Torre finished fifth with a season best time. The girl’s medley relay team of all seniors Kaitlin McNally, Arlene Hayes, Davis and Michele Bangsboll finished fourth dropping three seconds. Freshman Chris Crittenden and freshman Zach Carden finished ninth and 15th respectively in the 200 freestyle. Gridley placed eighth in the 100 breaststroke and senior Michele Bangsboll finished fifth in the 50 freestyle. Hayes placed ninth in the 100 breaststroke with a season best time. Freshman Russell McCord finished eighth in the 100 fly.

Torre, Gridley, freshman Jason Hartley along with senior Ryan Grant and senior Bryce Samples all swam the 50 free. Sophomores Sharon Hayes and Lilianna Urrego along with McNally and senior Hayes finished the meet with the 400 freestyle relay.

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