The Hurricanes boys team won just two events, but its deep talent carried them to the Rotary Invitational title.
By BOB PUTNAM
Published October 12, 2003
CLEARWATER - With her boys team not at full strength, Palm Harbor University coach Lisa Bitting knew it would be difficult to repeat as champions at the Rotary Invitational.
Bitting tinkered with the lineup, limiting top swimmers Levi Curnutte, Graham Sheldon, Andrew Mertens, Nick Brown and Marc Bentz to a handful of events and replacing them with those who would otherwise not compete.
It was a risk, but the Hurricanes won another title thanks to their depth. Winning just two events, PHU scored 452 points to beat runner-up Seminole by 80.
"This is a really deep squad," Bitting said. "The depth chart can go at least four-deep in every event. I wanted to use a lot of people so everybody could feel like they were a part of winning the title."
PHU's 200-yard freestyle relay team of Bentz, Matt Brown, Peter Wellings and Sheldon won with a time of 1 minute, 36.12 seconds. Aaron Haas, who won the 200 individual medley in 2:06.29, also was on the Hurricanes' second-place 200 medley and 400 freestyle relay teams.
Jay Carpenter of Clearwater was the boys MVP, setting a meet record in the 50 freestyle at 21.55. He also won the 100 butterfly (52.65) and was on the third-place 200 medley and 400 freestyle relay teams.
Seminole's Teresa Tessier, who won the 200 individual medley (2:14.02), the 100 butterfly (59.77) and was on the winning 200 medley relay team, was the girls MVP.
Tessier's performance wasn't enough to prevent Jacksonville Bolles from winning the girls title, but it helped the Warhawks score 776 to claim the unofficial team title.
"We won five boys and girls relay events, so it was nice effort from both sides," Seminole coach Tom Haight said.
