Only 16 swimmers and divers will compete in each event in each class, rather than the 40 who qualified before.
By EMILY NIPPS
Published October 26, 2004
Being one of the better swimmers in Class A, Nature Coast Tech's Kali Kingsley figured she'd eventually meet up with Jacksonville Bolles, a powerhouse that dominates the Class A meet year after year. She just didn't think it would be so soon.
Early this year, the Florida High School Athletic Association changed the format of the finals, adding a regional meet in between district and state. The regional allows more athletes to advance beyond their district but creates a filter on the way to state. Only 16 swimmers and divers will compete in each event in each class, rather than the 40 who qualified before.
What it means for Kingsley, most likely, is a long drive to be denied a shot at the state meet.
Kingsley and Nature Coast coach Phil Bennett must travel to Jacksonville Bolles' pool Thursday for the Class A, Region 1 meet. In Kingsley's events, the 100-yard butterfly and backstrokes, Bolles swimmers fill the top three qualifying times.
"It's a long trek for us," Bennett said. "The trouble is, we'll have to face Bolles. It's almost pointless going."
Even for those who don't have a seven-hour round-trip drive, the new regional meet has been received with mixed reviews, wit h many coaches and swimmers disappointed that their hopes of making it to state are all but squashed.
Some, however, see this as a good thing.
Springstead coach Justin Hengesback has four girls and two boys who qualified for Saturday's Class 2A, Region 2 meet in Gainesville.
While he's thrilled he has so many swimmers moving on past the district meet, he realizes his athletes have a tough time against swimmers from Gainesville or Titusville Astronaut.
"Yeah, but you know what, the state meet is an elite meet," Hengesback said. "It's better than having a watered down meet with swimmers from bad regions. I think it actually allows more swimmers the chance to compete because more move on from districts."
Central sophomore Rae-Lynn Sheffield, fifth in the 100 back at the state meet last year, hopes to return for another shot. She's tapering a little early this year, though, since her main focus right now is on her tough regional competition.
"I don't really know who I'll be up against," Sheffield said. "But I know it will be difficult."
