While dive results are still pending, it’s abundantly clear that Western Albemarle’s boys swimming and dive team won the Region 3C championship Thursday.
Meanwhile, on the girls side, Monticello and Western are locked in a close one that could be determined by the dive where the Warriors have competitors but the Mustangs do not.
The Monticello girls are up narrowly 137-129 over the Western girls while Western’s boys cruised to a title with 192 points in the swim portion, more than double second place Fluvanna’s score of 75.
“I am so proud of our kids for how they handled themselves in the pool and out of the pool,” Western coach Dan Bledsoe said. “They did a great job pre-race preparing themselves to compete against some of the great swimmers in the same.”
The Warriors’ boys swept the three relays and got double victories from standout Sam Johnson in the 200 free relay and 100 fly as well as Matthew Heilman in the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke.
Anthony Garono also notched a win in the 500 free and a runner-up finish in the 200 free while Noah Johnson took the 100 backstroke and fourth in the 100 free.
From there, the Warriors’ depth took over, which was critical as only a fourth place or better finish puts a swimmer in the state meet this year.
“It is much different this year without qualification time standards,” Bledsoe said. “It creates a more stressful environment than in years when you could still get in with a fast time.”
Jack Smith was among the Warriors who rose to that challenge, taking second in the 200 IM and second in the 100 breaststroke, as did Jonathan Alexander who took third in the 500 free and fourth in the 200 free. Two-event state qualifiers also included Peyton Wray (second in 100 back, fourth in 500 free) and Jackson Schundler (second in the 100 fly, fourth 100 breast). Simon Wray took fourth in the 50 free and Henry Addison took fourth in the 100 backstroke to round out the qualifiers and help bolster Western to the win.
The second place Fluvanna boys took second in the 200 medley relay and 200 free relay as well as fourth in the 400 free relay. Hunter Strickland also snagged a pair of fourth place finishes in the 200 IM and 100 fly to put himself in the state meet while Gus Jones’ third in the 100 fly and Ahmad Woodson’s second in the 500 free punched their tickets to the state meet.
On the girls side, Monticello built that narrow lead over Western with wins in the 200 medley relay and 200 free relay as well as a runner-up in the 400 free relay. Athena Vanyo doubled in the 200 IM and 100 butterfly while Elisabeth Bendall won the 100 breaststroke and took second in the 200 IM. Izzy Bradley took second in the 50 free and 100 backstroke. Katie Jordan took second in the 500 free and third in the 200 free while Eloise Weary was second in the 200 free and fourth in the 100 free. Allisan Bendall rounded out the state qualifiers for the Mustangs with a third in the 100 breaststroke.
Western’s girls’ second place finish in the swim portion (and potentially a win once dive results are sorted out Saturday) was powered by a victory in the 400 free relay and runner-up finishes in the 200 medley and 200 free relays. From there, the depth took over as Western stacked third place finishes from Virginia Smith, Julie Addison, Kathryn Burr and Ellie Schunder as well as a runner-up finish in the 100 breaststroke by Lilly Fitzpatrick. With Smith, Addison, Elke Beaumont and Maya Chatterson posting fourth places in their event, Western had enough points and state qualifiers to put the dive points in play.
The limited numbers on deck changed the environment for each team. Region and state swim meets are usually pretty boisterous events with a lot of cheering and urging on from teammates along the side of the pool.
“That normal, high energy feeling at the meet is missing,” Bledsoe said. “I thought our kids really did a great job encouraging each other throughout the day.”
For Fluvanna County’s girls, Abby Fuller put together a huge day, winning the 50 free and taking second in the 100 free. Charlottesville’s girls took third in the 200 freestyle relay.
