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© St. Petersburg Times, published September 18, 2002
CLEARWATER -- Though the heart of the swimming schedule is still to come, Palm Harbor U. would leave happy if the season ended today.
Seminole did not prevail this time.
Last season, the Warhawks' girls beat PHU for the first time, and the boys beat PHU just like every other year. Tuesday, both Hurricanes teams purged memories as the girls won 106-80 and the boys won 105-83 at Clearwater High.
"It's finally nice to beat them for once," PHU senior Josh Curnutte said. "The guys talked about it. We didn't want to lose for the fourth year in a row."
Curnutte carried his share of the load, winning the 200-meter freestyle (2 minutes, 8.04 seconds) and 100 free (56.43) and anchoring the first-place 200 free relay (1:46.10).
The Hurricanes also swept boys diving, led by Mark Moss, and Jason Hillhouse won the 200 individual medley and took second in the 100 backstroke.
Seminole's top performer was senior Luis Leon, who won the 50 free (24.71) and 100 fly (1:03.44) and was part of two winning relays.
PHU's girls turned the tables, winning nine of 12 events after winning four last year. Its young stars shined as freshmen and sophomores accounted for all of the winning swimming events.
Jessica Deng won the 200 IM (2:29.79) and 100 breast (1:15.81), and Caitlin Warner won the 200 free (2:11.30) and 500 free (4:33.80).
Seminole won two relays, and Katie Metka won the 50 free (27.81).
PHU's next major challenge is the Sept.27-28 Pinellas County Athletic Conference meet, where the boys and girls won last year after losing to Seminole nine days before. "It was actually our motivation for conference last year, so I'm sure Seminole will use it as their motivation this year," PHU coach Lisa Bitting said. "It works both ways."