ST. LEO - Springstead coach Justin Hengesbach stood by the pool - clad in a polo shirt and visor, both Springstead blue - unsure of whether his team won the Hernando County Athletic Conference swim meet.
Then he started rattling off all the events his swimmers won.
"Well let's see, Sarah (Barry) won the 100 (butterfly) and 200 (freestyle). Kim (Murphy) won the 100 (freestyle) and 100 (backstroke). The boys won just about everything," he said.
So, the final outcome is a foregone conclusion, right?
"We'll see."
No surprises, though. As Nature Coast coach Phil Bennett called out final team results, the Springstead team, on the other side of the pool, erupted in cheers. The Eagles swept the meet, boys and girls teams each placing first.
The Springstead girls had 365 points, 58 better than Central. The Eagle boys outpointed Central 300-265. Nature Coast and Hernando came in third and fourth, respectively, in both boys and girls.
In addition to two individual wins, Barry and Murphy teamed with Rachel Siegal and Stefanie Caggiano to win the 200 and 400-yard freestyle relays as well.
On the boys side, Adam Wethington continued his stellar season with wins in the 100 butterfly and 500 freestyle. Sarah Barry's younger brother, freshman Dan, won the 200 individual medley and 100 free.
Sis was somewhat impressed.
"Yeah, I guess he's pretty fast," she said.
Hernando County's other brother-sister tandem fared well too.
Central's Rae-Lynn Sheffield took the 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke. Her brother, Barrett, won the 100 IM.
Results have no bearing on the upcoming district meet but HCAC results do determine all-conference teams.
And All-Conference selections, "Get the little patches," Sarah Barry said. "Yeah, the ones you put on your varsity jacket."
