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Swimmers preparing to do battle

TAMPA -- County swimmers and divers are ready for the postseason.

Tampa Prep's Chris Colwill, a member of the USA Men's Diving team and a three-time Class A diving champion, leads the state title hopefuls.

Chamberlain freestyle distance swimmer Grant Nelson could also bring home a gold medal in the 200 and/or 500 freestyle. Plant senior Christine Anseeuw, also a multiple state champion, has a shot at repeating in one or more freestyle sprint events.

But the real battle will be between two girls powers at the Class A, District 6 meet Saturday at Tampa Prep. Senior diver Tara Hyer leads Academy of the Holy Names against Tampa Prep and eighth-grade freestyler Chlesea Nauta.

Tampa Prep coach Joe Slovak says Nauta will swim the 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke in individual competition and bolster two Terrapins relays. Nauta has the fastest times in the county in the 200 and 500 freestyle, 100 backstroke and 200 individual medley.

"I think we are going into the district meet with a hope of winning," Nauta said. "We certainly don't swim to lose, but Academy of the Holy Names and Berkeley Prep both have very strong teams and will have to be beaten.

"I want to have fun and enjoy my first state meet, assuming I will qualify."

Nauta isn't the only youngster making a splash. Eighth-grader Brittany Boldizsar and seventh-graders Gina Meyer and Ben Landon of Berkeley Prep will be in the hunt for district gold and high state finishes.

Academy of Holy Names is the girls team to beat. The Jaguars are young and loaded. In addition to Hyer on the springboard, the Jaguars are one of the best small school teams in Florida.

Jesuit is the boys favorite. The Tigers do not have the power they enjoyed in years past, but they do have depth.

"This has been a tough coaching year so far," coach Bill Shaffer said. "Between injuries and sharing swimmers with cross country, we haven't reached a peak yet."

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