State Runner Up- Boys and Girls

Pine Crest went 8-0 in the dual meet season, and were District Champion, Region Champion, and State Runner Up for both Boys and Girls in 2008.  Thank you to all the parents and fans of the Panthers who came out in strong support throughout the State series cheering on the team at the District, Region and State Championships.  Also a very big thank you to my coaching staff who did such an outstanding job all season long and during the State series to get everyone ready for their events.

And ready they were as this team performed outstanding in the State meet dropping times and breaking several school records while winning State titles and fighting off a strong challenge in the girls meet from American Heritage as it came down to last event for Pine Crest to pull in front and secure the 2nd place finish at the State meet.

The boys team opened up the meet with a strong performance in the 200 Medley Relay and the fastest time in Broward County as the team of Robert Dowd, Nick Manousos, Thomas Veale, Elijah Flood posted a time of 1:35.05 an All American time.  In the 200 free Elijah Flood, placed 3rd, just off the school record with an All American time of 1:39.75; and was also 3rd in the 100 free with an All American time 45.97.  Nick Manousos was 4th in the 200 IM, and 3rd in the 100 breast with an All American time of 57.17; Thomas Veale was 4th in the 500 free with an All American time, 4:31.24 and 6th in the 200 free.  Robert Dowd was 4th in the 100 fly and 6th in the 100 back.  Stephano Miranda posted lifetime best times and scored big points for Pine Crest in both the 200 and 500 free with All American times.  Austin Evenson swam in his first State meet in the 500 free and did another lifetime best performance.  Gotti Eisenberger, Thomas Veale, Descartes Holland, Stephano Miranda put in a solid performance in the 200 Free Relay while Elijah Flood, Robert Dowd, Stephano Miranda, Nick Manosous closed out the meet with a 2nd place finish in the 400 Free Relay, with the fastest time in Broward County and All American time of 3:08.27.

The Lady Panthers had a strong challenge from American Heritage Plantation and the girls rose to the challenge with some of the fastest times ever swum by Pine Crest.  Stephaine Moeller, Nathalie Bijlsma, Jessica Kazmin, Rebecca Aiello led off the team scoring with a 4th place finish and All American time in the 200 Medley Relay.  Then Stephaine Eisenring broke the school record of Nancy Marley, 1:46.63, that had stood from 1987, in the 200 free with a time of 1:46.52, placing 2nd in the 200 free; while Siena DeVenuto placed 4th in the 200 free with an All American time of 1:48.49; and Alina Schulhofer placed 12th in the 200 free.  In the 200 IM, Rebecca Aiello posted an All American time of 2:06.67 with Lindsay Orchard placing 13th in the 200 IM.  Lara Moseley won the B final of the 50 free with an All American time.  Jessica Kazmin was 13th in the 100 fly.

Then the Lady Panthers went on a roll as Stephanie Eisenring became the State Champion in the 100 free and just missed breaking the school record which is 49.95, when she swam a 49.97 and Lara Moseley placed 3rd in the 100 free and both girls posted All American times.  Siena DeVenuto became the State Champion and School Record holder in the 500 free when she went 4:44.29, breaking the old record of Barbara Metz of 4:45.68 set in 1987, and Mallory McKeon scored big points for PC when she won the B final of the 500 free.  Then the team of Stephanie Eisenring, Lara Moseley, Siena DeVenuto, Rebecca Aiello won the State Champion title in the 200 Free Relay in an All American time, and Stephanie Eisenring broke the School Record in the 50 free with her lead off swim of 23.18, breaking the old record of 23.21 set by Christie Raleigh in 2002. Stephanie Moeller placed 14th in the 100 back and Lindsay Orchard placed 14th in the 100 breast.  

The Panthers closed out the meet with a strong 2nd place performance in the 400 free relay that almost broke the school record of 3:25.30, when the team of Stephanie Eisenring, Lara Moseley, Siena DeVenuto, Rebecca Aiello swam an All American time of 3:25.87 to secure the State Runner Up title for the Lady Panthers.

It is Great to be a Pine Crest Panther!