Region 4-3A swimming

9:31 p.m. EDT, November 5, 2010

FORT LAUDERADALE —

When the waves had settled and it was revealed that the St. Thomas Aquinas boys had upset defending state champion Miami Palmetto in Friday's Region 4-3A swimming and diving finals, coach Marty Grady was as surprised as if he'd been hit with a bucket of ice water.

Palmetto won the 2009 state title by 80 points and have the top-tier swimmers that could carry them to a repeat next Friday in Orlando. But St. Thomas reprised its regional surprise of two years ago, winning by 33 points at Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Complex.

"I'm more surprised than by the one two years ago," Grady said. "We were 18 points down going into the finals. Ten guys swam their hearts out in the finals. It was a great team win."

Senior Dylan Marsolek gave the Raiders victories in the 200- and 500-yard freestyle, and freshman John Harrington won 1-meter diving. They also got an emotional victory in the 200 freestyle relay when R.J. Moore, who was second earlier in the 50 freestyle, came from behind on the anchor leg to edge Palmetto.

"He swam his best race of the year when we needed it," Grady said.

The Raiders girls won more convincingly over Palmetto, 431-264, led by Damaris Iriondo's victories in the 200 and 500 freestyle, matching her double in the district finals. Iriondo continues to build on her success in the summer, highlighted by a silver medal in the 10K ocean swim at the Junior Pan Pacific Championships.

"She's got one speed, and she can hold it for a long time," said Duffy Dillon, her club coach at FLA Aquatics.

"I've practiced it a lot, so it kind of shows, I guess," said Iriondo, who swam in her practice suit but will unveil her speed suit for state.

Sometimes it takes more than practice to maintain winning form. Marsolek said he lost his mental edge following his freshman season. He credits sports psychologist Christi Wathen, wife of Plantation Swim Team coach Dave Wathen, with helping get him back in the right frame of mind. Marsolek swam a personal-best in winning the 500 at district and trimmed off another second Friday to 4:37.58.

"I think swimming is at least half mental," Marsolek said. "I went through a period where I wasn't mentally sure and I almost quit. But I've come back strong. She really helped me out."

The St. Thomas girls took the first three places in 1-meter diving for the second consecutive year, led by Marina Nazario and Carly Alexander, who also finished 1-2 in 2009. Julia Hackett was third and Amanda Habig completed a Raiders sweep of the top four spots.

Cypress Bay tied for fifth in the boys standings as Franco Lupoli placed third in the 100 and 200 freestyle. South Plantation freshman Zoei Balthazar was second in the girls 50 freestyle and third in the 100.