Boys Win Districts, Girls are Runner-Up

Pine Crest Swimming and Diving traveled to St. Andrews School this past weekend to compete in the first round of State Championship playoffs.  The Panthers came away with the team District Championship title for the boys, and team runner up for the girls.  In the past 25 years Pine Crest has won the boys District Championship team title 24 times and this was the first loss for the girls in the past 25 years.  However, both teams gave outstanding performances throughout the meet and it came down to last race in the girls meet before St. Andrews was able to claim the team title by beating the Lady Panthers in the 400 free relay.

St. Andrews was a heavy favorite to win both the boys and girls team title going into the meet. While the boys took some hits this year going 7-5 in the dual meets, taking on top competition all season long proved to be the key to success at the District Championship meet.  The Panthers qualified all three relays to move onto the Region meet and won the 200 free relay with a new pool record, with the team of Descartes Holland, Kent Haeffner, Christiaan Bijlsma, and Jack Cawley.

Kent Haeffner and Descartes Holland won two more Gold medals each by taking the District title in the 200 and 500 free for Kent and the 50 and 100 free for Descartes.  Conner Gerrtis won the Gold in diving, with Austin Fields taking the Silver, and Lyle Hayes-Macaluso winning the Bronze.  Alex Evenson won 2 Silver medals in the 200 IM and 100 breast; while Thomas Doolittle won a Silver medal in the 100 fly and Anton Guneneralov, took the Silver in the 100 back.  The 200 Medley relay of Anton Gueneralov, Alex Evenson, Thomas Doolittle, Christiaan Biljsma and the 400 Free relay of Descartes Holland, Kent Haeffner, Alex Evenson, Jack Cawley also won the Silver medal.  Jack Cawley won the Bronze medal in the 100 back.

Moving onto the Region Championship meet this coming Saturday for Pine Crest will be, 200 Medley relay; Kent Haeffner, John Graner, Rak Hovart, in the 200 free; Alex Evenson, Ryan Graff, in the 200IM; Descartes Holland, Christiaan Biljsma, Jack Cawley in the 50 free; Conner Gerrtis, Austin Fields, Lyle Hayes-Macaluso in diving; Thomas Doolittle and John Rudnik in the 100 fly; Kent Haeffner, John Graner in the 500 free; 200 Free relay; Anton Gueneralov, Jack Cawley, John Rudnik, Matt Kronengold in the 100 back. Alex Evenson, Ryan Graff, Thomas Doolittle, Sam Krontner in the 100 breast, and the 400 free relay.

The Lady Panthers opened the meet strong but just a little short by .2 of a second in the 200 Medley relay, getting out touched by St. Andrews, but both teams went under the pool record and recorded All American times.  It was a close meet all night as all the relays were very competitive but St. Andrews came out on top in each.  However, the divers were a dominant force with Carloyn Chaney winning the Gold; Juliette Pozzuoli the Silver, Carly Ehrlich the Bronze and Ishani Singh advancing to Regions.  Brittany Hammond won the Gold medal in the 500 free; with Lindsay Swartz winning the Gold in the 100 breast.  The 200 Medley relay, Miriyam Ghali, Lindsay Swartz, Tyla Martin, Kaelah Chaney, the 200 Free relay, Kaelah Chaney, Julia Chui, Hannah Veale, Brittany Hammond, and the 400 Free relay, Tyla Martin, Julia Chui, Hannah Veale, Brittany Hammond, all took the Silver medal.  Brittany Hammond took Silver in the 200 free; as did Tyla Martin in the 100 fly; and Casey Francis in the 500 free, along with Miriyam Ghali in the 100 back. Tyla Martin took the Bronze in the 200 IM, with Miriyam Ghali getting the Bronze in the 100 fly.

Moving onto to Regions will be the 200 Medley relay, Brittany Hammond, Sabrina Gornisiewicz in the 200 free; Tyla Martin, Lindsay Swartz, Casey Francis in the 200 IM; Hannah Veale, Kaelah Chaney, Julia Chui in the 500 free, Carolyn Chaney, Juilette Pozzouli, Carly Ehlrich, Ishani Singh, in diving. Tyla Martin and Miriyam Ghali in the 100 fly; Hannah Veale, Julia Chui in the 100 free; Brittany Hammond, Casey Francis, Sabrina Gornisiewicz, Monica Pradel, in the 500 free; 200 Free relay, Miriyam Ghali, Jamie Flores in the 100 back; Lindsay Swartz, and Kaelah Chaney in the 100 breast and the 400 Free relay.

Every athlete entered in the District Championships for boys and girls scored points for each team as they all scored in the finals, Hailey Kelly; Amber Lubie; Anastasia Hediger; Brooke Bernstein; Julian Munoz; and Antony Novak.

Regions are at Nova Southeastern University in Davie, this Saturday, November 3 with finals at 5:00pm, come out and cheer on the Panthers as they take one more step toward the State Championship meet.

It is Great to be a Pine Crest Panther!

Click HERE for more photo's from Districts (taken by Paul Evenson)