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Hernando Today

A Step Away From States

Photo by JOE DiCRISTOFALO

Springstead High senior Dan Barry

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By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

Hernando Today

Published: November 7, 2008

Out of the four Hernando County programs, 25 swimmers remain alive heading into today's two regional meets.

Contingents from Hernando and Nature Coast will make their way up to Jacksonville-Bolles School for the Class 1A, Region I Meet, while Central and Springstead representatives will take part in the Class 2A, Region II Meet at Fort Pierce's Anne Wilder Aquatic Complex. Prelims for both begin at 9 a.m.

A field of 24 for individual events and 16 for relays will advance to next weekend's state meets in Orlando, with winners of each event earning automatic berths and the rest being determined by at-large times.

Springstead senior Dan Barry figures to be a virtual lock for states, having made it there his three previous prep seasons. He ranks second in his region in both the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard butterfly.

He is the two-time defending regional champion in the 100-fly and won the 50-free at this meet in 2006. He won both events at the district meet, swimming a 22.75 in the free and 54.87 in the fly.

After districts, Springstead Head Coach Will O'Lynnger wanted to see Barry shave a quarter of a second off his turn in the fly and a quarter of a second off his finish in the free.

"Dan still hasn't hit his best times yet," O'Lynnger said. "We'll work on his taper here. Dan can go as far as he wants to go."

Also for the Springstead, senior Angel Healy will compete in the 500-yard freestyle and 100-yard breaststroke.

Central's Elizabeth McGeehan and Emily Withington will both compete in four events, including the 200-yard medley and 200-yard freestyle relays with Shelby Brown and Stephanie Parsolano.

Individually the junior McGeehan will swim in the 50-free and 100-fly, while the sophomore Withington competes in the 200-yard IM and 100-breast.

The sophomore Brown will also swim the 200-yard freestyle, while freshman Frankie Reese joins Withington in the 100-breast.

For the Central boys, senior Barrett Sheffield goes in the 100-breast and the 200-free relay with Tom Adams, Zachary Martin and Derek Buel.

"I hope our swimmers show their best performance at regionals and we're looking forward to having a good meet," Central Head Coach Julie Withington said. "Our girls' side looks pretty strong. We have a lot of events, so I think we can score some points and make it into finals."

Hernando has hopes that senior Corey Hartsock might move on to states for the first time on the heels of his district championship in the 100-breast.

Hartsock, who will also compete in the 100-yard freestyle, is ranked seventh in the region based on his 1:08.55 time at districts.

"It would be so good for the school and the team," Hernando Head Coach Anne Elsea said. "I want that really bad for Corey.

"He's got to get real focused and he always has been with his events. And I think every little thing counts."

Additionally the Leopards have senior Jesse Lane swimming in the 100-fly and 100-yard backstroke. Hartsock, Lane and Paul Wernicke join Roger Williams in the 200-medley relay and Jordin Williams in the 200-free relay.

The Hernando girls are represented by Emily Antonini, Michelle Martin, Victoria Ketchum and Nicole Antonini in the 200-free relay.

Victoria Loydgren, a district champ in the 50-free, and Alex Wigoda (200-IM, 100-breast) are Nature Coast's two individual regional qualifiers. Sebastian Montagnino, Wigoda, James Foster and Joe MacGregor are in the 200-medley relay.

"Just by them getting their best times of the year in," Nature Coast Head Coach Paul Wigoda said of what would make this a successful meet. "They work all year long to get to regionals and this is the time for them to really prove themselves."

AT A GLANCE

WHAT: Class 2A, Region II Swim Meet

WHO: Central, Springstead.

WHEN: Nov. 7

WHERE: Anne Wilder Aquatic Complex, Fort Pierce.

FORMAT: First-place finishers earn an automatic berth to Nov. 15 2A FHSAA Finals at Orlando's Central Florida YMCA Aquatic Center. The remaining field of 24 for each individual event and 16 for relays will be determined by at-large times.

DIRECTIONS: Take State Road 50 east to Florida Turnpike. Take Florida Turnpike to exit 152 (Fort Pierce/Okeechobee). Take right folk onto Okeechobee Road (State Road 70 East). Bear right on Virginia Avenue (State Road 70 East). The facility is located at 3209 Virginia Ave.

AT A GLANCE

WHAT: Class 1A, Region I Swim Meet

WHO: Hernando, Nature Coast.

WHEN: Nov. 7

WHERE: Jacksonville-Bolles School.

FORMAT: First-place finishers earn an automatic berth to Nov. 14 1A FHSAA Finals at Orlando's Central Florida YMCA Aquatic Center. The remaining field of 24 for each individual event and 16 for relays will be determined by at-large times.

DIRECTIONS: Take U.S Highway 19 or Interstate 75 north to Interstate 10. Take Interstate 10 east to Interstate 95. Take Interstate 95 south to exit 346B onto University Boulevard West (State Road 109). Turn left on St. Augustine Road. Turn right on San Jose Boulevard (State Road 13). The school is located at 7400 San Jose Blvd.

2008 HERNANDO COUNTY REGIONAL QUALIFIERS
Name                                      School                    Event
Tom Adams                          Central                   200-free relay
Emily Antonini                     Hernando              200-free relay
Nicole Antonini                    Hernando              200-free relay
Dan Barry                              Springstead           50-free, 100-fly
Shelby Brown                       Central                   200-free, 200-medley relay, 200-free relay
Derek Buel                            Central                   200-free relay
James Foster                         Nature Coast         200-medley relay
Corey Hartsock                    Hernando              100-free, 100-breast, 200-medley relay, 200-free relay
Angel Healy                          Springstead           500-free, 100-breast
Victoria Ketchum                 Hernando              200-free relay
Jesse Lane                           Hernando              100-fly, 100-back, 200-medley relay, 200-free relay
Victoria Loydgren                Nature Coast         50-free
Joe MacGregor                     Nature Coast         200-medley relay
Michelle Martin                    Hernando              200-free relay
Zachary Martin                    Central                   200-free relay
Mary Alice McGeehan        Central                   50-free, 100-fly, 200-medley relay, 200-free relay
Sebastian Montagnino       Nature Coast         200-medley relay
Stephanie Parsolano            Central                   200-medley relay
Frankie Reese                       Central                   100-breast
Barrett Sheffield                   Central                   100-breast, 200-free relay
Paul Wernicke                      Hernando              200-medley relay, 200-free relay
Alex Wigoda                         Nature Coast         200-IM, 100-breast, 200-medley relay
Jordin Williams                     Hernando              200-free relay
Roger Williams                     Hernando              200-medley relay
Emily Withington Central                   200-IM, 100-breast, 200-medley relay, 200-free relay

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

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