Silva, Wyher double their fun

Freedom's Silva and Jesuit's Wyher each nab two titles at state, with Silva accomplishing the feat a third straight year.

By DAWN REISS
Published November 20, 2005

FORT LAUDERDALE - Freedom senior Michael Silva let out a loud wahoo deep from within his chest and grinned until his teeth looked as if they would fall out.

By winning the 100-yard breaststroke and 200-yard individual medley, Silva joined an elite group of state championship winners.

He is the eighth person in an 80-plus year history that has won two state events three or more consecutive years, according to the Florida High School Athletic Association archives. He is the only one to accomplish such a feat for Freedom. "I can't put this into words," Silva said. "It was important to win. I've already signed with Auburn University. I wanted this for me."

Silva shaved more than a second off his breaststroke (56.27) and a few hundredths of his IM (1:52.76), becoming a high school All-American in both.

Jesuit junior Tommy Wyher also reaped big rewards. He led Jesuit to a third-place team finish (65 points) behind Bolles (136) and Pine Crest (70.5).

Wyher won the 100 backstroke in 49.65 and 100-yard fly in 48.35, gaining All-America status in both. He joined teammates Michael Eves, Sully Lynch and Stephen Sheridan in the 200 medley relay, finishing second in 1:36.58 as All-Americans. He also helped Sheridan, Matt Attal and Sullivan Lynch take third in the 400 free.

After the meet, Wyher's grandfather, Donald, joked that when University of Florida assistant coach Anthony Nesty, who holds the state record in the 100 butterfly (47.6 in 1986), gave him his card, he told him, "next year my grandson is going to break your record."

The victories bring Wyher's career total to five.

"I'll try to break (Nesty's) record," Tommy Wyher said. "I may not have gotten it this year but I'll be back here next year, for sure."

Jesuit also finished fourth in the 200-free relay, with Matt Josey, Andrew Werdine, Attal and Lynch.

In Class 3A competition, Riverview senior Ryan Crete won the 500 free in an All-America time of 4:27.29. He finished second in the 200 free (1:41.46).

In diving, Durant's Christopher Plante took third with a 469.05 score in Class 3A while Tampa Prep junior Eli Bobo scored 382.35 points for third in Class A.

Ryan and Matt Stumpf helped lead Tampa Prep in swimming, finishing sixth in the 200 medley relay with C.J. Tropp and Matt Tucker. Ryan also collected medals in the 100 free (sixth) and 50 free. Matt placed seventh in the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke. Tampa Prep finished seventh in team points.

[Last modified November 20, 2005, 00:55:14]