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Hernando Today

SHS No Longer Alone At The Top

Photo by TIM NEDDY

Springstead High junior Dan Barry competing in the 200-yard intermediate relay.

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By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

Hernando Today

Published: August 15, 2008

For the third consecutive season, one Hernando County male swimmer stood out above the rest.

No one could deny the dominance and skill of Springstead High junior Dan Barry, a now three-time state qualifier unanimously voted Hernando Today Male Swimmer of the Year for a third time.

During his two previous prep campaigns, Barry helped the Eagles remain the county's top team. Springstead had won three consecutive outright county crowns coming into this year.

Yet when the four county schools got together for a quad meet last October, it wasn't the Eagles that walked away victorious.

In fact, Springstead finished third in a tightly contested event. Instead Central High managed to overcome the challenges of second-place Hernando High and the Eagles.

However, Springstead finished with five more points in the Class 2A, District 5 meet only a few weeks later.

The Hernando Today All-County Team, compiled with input from the county's coaches, reflects this sudden even mix of superior swimmers amongst the local programs.

Barry, his freshman brother Jay Barry and teammate Billy Davis represent the Eagles, while Hernando boasts two selections in Corey Hartsock and Michael Behm.

Central's Barrett Sheffield and Nature Coast Technical's James Foster are also on the squad, along with relays featuring the two Barrys, Davis, Craig Brice or Brian Roebuck, and the Bear 200-yard freestyle relay of Sheffield, Michael Senker, Robert Rose and Cody Furlong.

Additionally, Central Head Coach Julie Withington earned the Coach of the Year nod.

Sheffield, Davis back again

This marks Dan Barry's third All-County selection, but he is not alone in that distinction. Sheffield, also a junior last season, makes his third appearance, as well.

He paced the county with top times in two events, the 50-yard freestyle (24.38) and his strongest event, the 100-yard breaststroke (1:08.20).

At the county quad meet he won the 100-breast and finished second to Dan Barry in the 200-yard IM, and advanced to regionals in the 100-breast, finishing 11th (1:08.75).

"I think he had a great season," Withington said. "When swimming starts, he's there. He's swimming for the team and he just keeps the team motivated.

"He's a remarkable athlete. He really does well with swimming. He's a big asset to our team."

Davis is the other returning All-County member, becoming a two-time selection off a solid junior campaign.

Though he has done well in the 200-yard freestyle during his prep career he specializes in distance swimming. He has established himself as the county's best competitor in the 500-yard freestyle.

His time of 6:07.50 in the 500-free paced the county; he won that event handily at the county quad meet and advanced to regionals (19th, 6:15.88) for the second time.

"He had some work to do on his stroke, but right off the bat he's almost got a knack for distance events," Springstead Head Coach Andrew Smith said. "He worked on that last year and kept improving.

"I like having someone who swims good distance. I remember when I was in high school it was hard to find someone to do that."

First-timers

In his three high school seasons, Hartsock has proved a microcosm of his team, gradually rising from inexperience to respectability.

Hartsock took that a step further in his junior year, establishing himself as one of the county's top swimmers with a county-best 2:14.81 in the 200-free.

He beat out Davis in that event during the county quad meet and came in second to Sheffield in the 100-breast, then qualified for regionals for the first time in both events. He came in 21st (2:15.88) in the 200-free and 10th (1:12.31) in the 100-breast.

"He's very dedicated," Hernando Head Coach Judi Decker said. "Now he's in club swimming. He's constantly swimming even now. He's doing really fantastic. He's progressed so much. He's better year after year.

"I think he's really hard on himself. He's trying to outdo his own times. He's constantly pushing himself."

His teammate Behm, a senior, also reached regionals in two events, the 50-yard freestyle (22nd, 25.84) and 100-yard freestyle (20th, 59.19). He led the county in the 100-free, posting a top time of 58.47.

"That was a surprise," Decker said. "And he did really fantastic. I'm proud of him. I think he's one of those sleepers. He found his niche and did very well."

Foster, a junior, was the only Nature Coast male to make regionals, doing so in the 100-yard butterfly (23rd, 1:18.46). Head Coach Chris Bibbo credited Foster and Alex Wigoda for leading his team.

"James moved on to compete in regionals and both boys will be our anchors for a winning season next year," Bibbo said.

As for Jay Barry, the freshman represents the fourth member of his family to both swim for the Eagles and earn All-County honors, joining older siblings Matt, Sarah and Dan.

Unlike his brothers and sister, he had given up year-round swimming several years ago. But he still managed to excel in the 100-yard backstroke, leading the county with a time of 1:07.56.

He also won the county quad meet in that event and advanced to regionals (19th, 1:08.64).

"He was a surprise," Coach Smith said. "I wasn't expecting to have another Barry on the team, let alone one that would be so competitive to start with.

"He hadn't been swimming in three years but you really couldn't tell. There was no rust aside from being slower at the beginning. He made the improvements I expected based on his experience."

The Barry brothers, Davis and Brice swam a county-best 1:56.81 in the 200-yard medley relay and reached regionals (16th, 2:04.60).

Brian Roebuck replaced Brice on that quartet for the county's top 400-yard freestyle relay (4:00.58) that also went to regionals (15th, 4:17.42).

Senker, Sheffield, Rose and Furlong posted a 1:43.08 for the fastest time in the 200-free relay. With Tom Adams in place of Furlong, they combined for a 1:43.74 to finish 13th at regionals.

2007 HERNANDO TODAY
ALL-COUNTY BOYS SWIM TEAM
Relays
Dan Barry, Jay Barry, Craig Brice, Billy Davis, Brian Roebuck (Springstead)
Cody Furlong, Robert Rose, Michael Senker, Barrett Sheffield (Central)
Individuals
Name                                      Year       School
Dan Barry#                            Jr             Springstead
Jay Barry                               Fr            Springstead
Michael Behm                       Sr            Hernando
Billy Davis*                          Jr             Springstead
James Foster                         Jr             Nature Coast
Corey Hartsock                    Jr             Hernando
Barrett Sheffield#                 Jr             Central
Swimmer of the Year: Dan Barry# (Springstead)
Coaches of the Year: Julie Withington (Central)
* Denotes repeat selection
# Denotes three-time selection

Sports writer Chris Bernhardt Jr. can be reached at (352) 544-5288 or cbernhardt@hernandotoday.com.

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