Weather pushes state finals back

Damage from Hurricane Wilma forces the FHSAA to postpone the meet for two weeks.

By STEVE LEE
Published October 27, 2005

Hurricane Wilma, which ravaged South Florida and left millions powerless, also wreaked havoc on area prep sports schedules over the last week.

Swimming is the latest sport affected, joining football, volleyball and cross country for rescheduled events.

The state meet initially slated for Nov. 4-6 in Fort Lauderdale, which would have meant a return to Broward County after a two-year hiatus, have been postponed for two weeks.

According to the Florida High School Athletic Association, finals for Classes A, 2A and 3A are scheduled for Nov. 17-19 at the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Complex.

Some region meets were also rescheduled, with a number of North Suncoast teams affected. The Class A, Region 1 meet at Jacksonville Bolles, which includes Pasco High, Crystal River and other North Suncoast schools, was moved from today to Nov. 4. Also moved to that date was the 3A-2 meet at the Sarasota Family YMCA, originally scheduled for Friday. Several Mitchell swimmers are scheduled to compete in that meet.

"They could have had it," Pasco coach Russ Rosenbauer said. "They just don't want to wait (weeks) for the state meet."

Mitchell coach Regina Drum, whose girls won a second straight Sunshine Athletic Conference championship before finishing a disappointing sixth in the 3A, District 5 meet, the regional delay does not seem to matter much.

"I really don't think it's going to affect us too much," she said. A number of other North Suncoast teams are still on for Friday's 2A-2 meet at Indian River Community College in Fort Pierce.

"The FHSAA wanted the meet to go on as scheduled," Indian River CC swim coach Scott Kimmelman said. "We had a little damage (to awnings and a fence at the outdoor pool), but we're in total operational mode."

- Times staff writer Dawn Reiss contributed to this report.

[Last modified October 27, 2005, 01:29:09]