Crystal River's teams surprise

By LARRY BUGG
Published October 19, 2005

THE VILLAGES - The Crystal River girls swim team placed second and the boys were third at the Class A, District 3 meet Tuesday at the Laurel Manor pool.

Ocala Trinity Catholic won the girls meet with 264 points, while Crystal River had 196. Dade City Pasco had 135 for third.

Eustis won the boys title by three points, with a final score of 200. Runner-up was Trinity Catholic. Crystal River had 154 points, edging out Pasco for third by two points. Pirates coach Tas Pepito said he was delighted with his teams' improved finishes.

"I wasn't expecting to do this well," Pepito said. "We had some of our swimmers drop 15 to 20 seconds off their best times. I'm really pleased."

Nature Coast sophomore Sara Toftegaard rallied to narrowly beat Crystal River's Sara Bartley and win the girls 100-yard freestyle. "I was really surprised," Toftegaard said. "I led at the start but she took the lead at 75 yards. I passed her at 87 yards to win. I'm excited to go to state. I went to state last year at Central High."

"I don't think it's an upset," Nature Coast Phil Bennett said. "I knew it could happen."

The individual district winners advance to the regional at Jacksonville Bolles on Oct. 27. Runners-up with the top times will advance to the regional.

Crystal River freshman diver Sarah Wygle came in second, but her 284.7 points to qualify for the regional. Umatilla's Stephanie Sheckler won the title duringMonday's competition at Crystal River's Bicentennial Park pool.

"I'm really surprised," Wygle said. "I tried diving and I knew this is so addictive. This is my first year of diving."

Crystal River's Jeffrey Arnold had 268.35 points to win the boys 1-meter diving.

The Pasco boys 200 freestyle relay, composed of Brenden Bolender, Fidencio Alexander, Patrick Epperson and Orey Clark, won with a time of 1:40.73.

[Last modified October 19, 2005, 00:55:16]