The Lee High girls’ and boys’ swim teams have yet to win a meet this season, but head coach Jeff Firman said the Lancer teams, despite both being 0-4, have gotten better each week throughout the winter schedule.
“There has been a lot of improvement thus far, and I expect that will continue in the next three weeks as we prepare for our [Patriot] District [championships],” said Firman.
The Lancer boys, in their most recent meet, fell to South County, 192-122, on Dec. 18 at the Mount Vernon Recreation Center. Their next meet is scheduled for this Friday night versus W.T. Woodson at Lee District Park.
The Lee boys have received solid seasons from seniors James McKissick and Michael Jordan, sophomore Arturo Galan, and freshmen Adam Murray. On the diving front, seniors Chris Puddy and Tyler Nelson have led the Lancers.
Lee’s regular season meets thus far have come against Lake Braddock, West Potomac, Annandale and South County.
For the Lee girls, who last competed on Dec. 18 – a 209-98 setback to South County – strong seasons have come from senior Caroline Gagarin, sophomores Hannah Bates (sophomore) and Claire Reilly (sophomore), and freshman Melissa Schwartz. The Lancers’ top diver on the girls’ side has been senior Megan Gleason.
Like the boys, the Lee girls will go up against Woodson on Friday night.
Lee’s final regular season meet on both the boys’ and girls’ sides is scheduled for next Friday evening, Jan. 21 when the Lancers meet the T.C. Williams teams at Lee District. The following week thereafter will see the Lancer teams emerge into the postseason portion of their schedule with the district championships set to take place Jan. 28-29 at Lee District.
<b>AT LAKE BRADDOCK HIGH</b> both the boys’ and girls’ swim teams have slowly rounded into form over the course of the season. The Bruin girls, talented but young squad across the roster, were 2-3 going into this week. The girls’ team’s top point producers at meets have come from its sophomore and junior swimmers.
Such team members as juniors Alyssa McGarry and Alessandro Troncoso, and the Parry twins – Jordan and Taylor – along with sophomores Alex Hunter and Sophia Chase, have had impact seasons for the Lake Braddock girls.
“They’re definitely showing the district what they have,” said fifth year Bruins head coach Miriam Lynch, of her talented group of underclassmen swimmers. “I’m looking for big things from them next year. They’ve worked so hard. A lot of our swimmers are [competing] on club teams and in high school.”
Troncoso and Chase have both qualified for next month’s state meet in the 100-breaststroke event.
Diver Lizzy White, a junior and the defending district girls’ champion, is unbeaten and having another superb year.
The Lake Braddock girls’ team wins thus far have come over Lee, on Dec. 3 at South Run Recreation Center, and T.C. Williams, on Dec. 17 at Mount Vernon.
The 3-2 Lake Braddock boys’ team have been led by its seniors this season.
“My seniors are the stars on the boys’ team,” said coach Lynch.
One of the highlights for the boys this season has been the two relay teams – the 200-medley and the 400-free – that have earned state qualification. Both relays are made up of seniors Troy Chewning, John McKenzie, David Maquera and Nicholas Laffosse.
Coach Lynch said her boys’ team has been boosted this season with the addition of four former Annandale High swimmers who are now Lake Braddock students due to recent re-structuring changes in school boundaries. Of her boys’ team in general, Lynch said, “They’re doing quite well and will be strong at districts.”
There were plenty of team highlights for both the Lake Braddock boys’ and girls’ teams at their most recent meet on Jan. 7 versus West Potomac High at South Run. Several Bruins achieved season best times in their events. Those swimmers were the following: Kevin Romero (200 free), Alex Hunter (200 free), Taylor Parry (200 free), Kyle Hannam (200 IM), Jordan Parry(200 IM), Sophie Chase (200 IM), Charlene Lertlumprasert (200 IM), Kelsey Carpenter (100 fly), Colin Grey (100 free), Ben Fields (100 free), Megan Goldsby (100 free), Alexis Larsen (100 free), Caitlyn Creasy (500 free), Elisabeth Clymer (500 free), Ryan Krogel (100 back), Kieran Grealish (100 back), Jessica Goldsby (100 back), Mitchell Lawhorn (100 breaststroke), Paul Karcic (100 breaststroke), Danny Murphy (100 breaststroke), Varun Bhatnagar (100 breaststroke) and Megan Moody (100 breaststroke).
<b>THE SOUTH COUNTY</b> swim teams, under head coach Robert Jones, are enjoying outstanding seasons, with both the boys’ and girls’ teams sporting impressive 4-1 records.
The Stallion boys are coming off a 202-111 team win over T.C. Williams last Friday night in a Patriot District competition that took place at the George Washington Recreation Center.
Earlier this winter, South County opened the season with a victory over Annandale on Dec. 3 before losing to West Springfield the following week. But the Lancers have since rebounded with wins over West Potomac, Lee and the Titans of T.C.
The South County girls, like their boy counter parts, were victorious in their most recent meet versus T.C. Williams, winning Friday’s competition, 213-95. The Stallions’ lone loss has come to West Springfield back in the second week of the schedule.
<b>THE FAIRFAX HIGH</b> swim teams will meet Madison High this Friday night at 8:30 at Audrey Moore Recreation Center. The Rebels will then wrap up their Liberty District regular season schedule the following week when they meet South Lakes on Friday, Jan. 21 at the Herndon Country Club. The district championships are set to take place Jan. 28-29 at Audrey Moore.