Shorthanded Squads Tie

Hernando High didn't have its fastest swimmer. Central High barely had a team at all.

All things considered, both sides walked away satisfied with the result of the boys' meet Saturday at Hernando County's YMCA of the Suncoast.

Thanks to the Bears sweeping the top three spots in the 100-yard breaststroke and a clutch final leg of the 400-yard freestyle relay by Derek Buel, the final team tally ended up even, 83-83.

The Leopards swam without senior Corey Hartsock, a regional qualifier who sat out the meet for undisclosed reasons.

Not to be topped in terms of attrition, Central had just eight boys competing after two failed to show up.

"Even without our fastest male swimmer, they swam a great meet," Hernando Head Coach Anne Elsea said. "It's all about team effort and not one standout swimmer. I think we've got more depth than we give ourselves credit for. I'm proud of a tie without our strongest male swimmer."

"They need that too," Central Head Coach Julie Withington said of her boys. "They only have one win so far. It's good for them. A lot of guys were in events they don't normally swim or want to swim."

After Barrett Sheffield (1:10.50), Phil Rodriguez (1:28.31) and Antohomar Vega (1:32.87) took first, second and third respectively for the Bears in the 100-breast, it all came down to the 400-free relay.

Down 77-75 going into the final event and with only one relay compared to two for the Leopards, Central had to win to pull out the tie.

Buel, a regional qualifier in the 500-yard freestyle last year, anchored a team that included Zachary Martin, Corey Makuch and Mike Alonzo.

The sophomore swam a 59.80 over that final 200, according to the timing of assistant coach Wayne Withington, catching and surpassing his Hernando counterpart for a first-place time of 4:39.52.

Though the swimmers seemed aware of the closeness of the meet, Buel didn't know for sure that he had clinched a tie until after the race.

"I just had energy left from the 500 I guess," Buel said. "I had a long rest. I figured I had energy left so let's book it. I just wanted to win."

Earlier in the night, Buel had won the 200-yard freestyle (2:18.19) and the 500-free (6:12.55). Barrett Sheffield won the 200-yard IM (25.90) along with the breaststroke.

Sheffield also swam on the top 200-yard medley relay with Tom Adams, Rodriguez and Vega (2:12.15).

Sheffield, Rodriguez, Adams and Martin won the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:54.27) and Alonzo added a victory in the 200-yard IM (3:02.27).

Senior Jesse Lane provided two first-place finishes for Hernando, in the 100-yard butterfly (1:10.94) and 100-yard backstroke (1:15.17). Teammate Paul Wernicke won the 100-yard freestyle (1:02.75).

Another Lady Bear blowout

The Central girls posted another easy triumph over a county foe, winning 118-52 and claiming first in all but one race.

Mary Alice McGeehan and Emily Withington each posted four victories, two of them coming together in a pair of relays.

McGeehan took the 50-free (28.55) and 100-fly (1:10.31) and Withington the 200-IM (2:32.54) and 100-breast (1:23.50).

Shelby Brown and Stephanie Parsolano combined with that duo on the top 200-medley relay (2:17.45) and 200-free relay (2:04.00).

Cortney Sznajder provided three wins, in the 200-free (2:40.37), 500-free (7:37.64) and with Candice Catalano, Frankie Reese and Amanda Kane in the 400-free relay (5:13.34).

The only non-Lady Bear victory came from Michelle Martin, who won the 100-free for the Lady Leopards in 1:10.26.

"I hope they stay motivated and work hard for the rest of the season," Julie Withington said, "to represent the team at districts."

Girls
Central 118, Hernando 52

200-yard medley relay
1. Brown, Withington, McGeehan, Parsolano (CEN) 2:17.45, 2. E. Antonini, M. Martin, Ketchum, N. Antonini (HER) 2:34.59.

200-yard freestyle
1. Sznajder (CEN) 2:40.37, 3. Mojeiko (HER) 3:03.63.

200-yard IM
1. Withington (CEN) 2:32.54, 4. N. Antonini (HER) 3:20.40.

50-yard freestyle
1. McGeehan (CEN) 28.55, 2. M. Martin (HER) 32.41.

100-yard butterfly
1. McGeehan (CEN) 1:10.31, 2. Ketchum (HER) 1:23.05.

100-yard freestyle
1. M. Martin (HER) 1:10.26. 2. Catalano (CEN) 1:10.48.

500-yard freestyle
1. Sznajder (CEN) 7:37.64, 4. Rhodes (HER) 8:07.

200-yard freestyle relay
1. Withington, Parsolano, Brown, McGeehan (CEN) 2:04.00, 2. M. Martin, E. Antonini, Ketchum, N. Antonini (HER) 2:14.64.

100-yard backstroke
1. Brown (CEN) 1:16.98, 4. Ketchum (HER) 1:32.53.

100-yard breaststroke
1. Withington (CEN) 1:23.50, 3. Wilson (HER) 1:43.96.

400-yard freestyle relay
1. Catalano, Reese, Sznajder, Kane (CEN) 5:13.34, 3. L. Martin, Mojeiko, Baskin, Harmon (HER) 5:34.10.

Boys
Central 83, Hernando 83

200-yard medley relay
1. Adams, Rodriguez, Sheffield, Vega (HER) 2:12.15, 2. Lane, Mattison, R. Williams, Wernicke (HER) 2:12.93.

200-yard freestyle
1. Buel (CEN) 2:18.19, 3. Phillips (HER) 2:35.54.

200-yard IM
1. Alonzo (CEN) 3:02.27, 2. Herbert (HER) 3:11.22.

50-yard freestyle
1. Sheffield (CEN) 25.90, 2. Wernicke (HER) 26.14.

100-yard butterfly
1. Lane (HER) 1:10.94, 3. Adams (CEN) 1:28.40.

100-yard freestyle
1. Wernicke (HER) 1:02.75, 2. Martin (CEN) 1:05.25.

500-yard freestyle
1. Buel (CEN) 6:12.55, 2. Phillips (HER) 7:27.80.

200-yard freestyle relay
1. Sheffield, Rodriguez, Adams, Martin (CEN) 1:54.27, 2. Wernicke, J. Williams, R. Williams, Lane (HER) 1:55.58.

100-yard backstroke
1. Lane (HER) 1:15.17, 3. Adams (CEN) 1:22.66.

100-yard breaststroke
1. Sheffield (CEN) 1:10.50, 4. Mattison (HER) 1:35.88.

400-yard freestyle relay
1. Martin, Makuch, Alonzo, Buel (CEN) 4:39.52, 2. Freed, Parmelee, Morrill, J. Williams (HER) 4:43.15.