And the Mustangs streak stops here

The Land O'Lakes girls end Mitchell's 24-meet win streak; Gator boys also are victorious.

By MIKE TOMPKINS
Published October 12, 2006

TRINITY - Robin Hilgenberg had contained herself all night.

Despite holding a healthy lead over Pasco County stalwart Mitchell, she didn't want to give her girls a reason to slack off. But fresh off a celebratory jump into the pool after the Gators' 113-72 upset of Mustangs, Hilgenberg's grin was wider than the margin of victory.

Land O'Lakes' win at the James P. Gills YMCA pool snapped Mitchell's 24-meet win streak.

"We're not that confident as coaches," Hilgenberg said. "You never know what's going to happen. We kept saying, "Okay, when are they going to start coming at us?' But we just put it on.

"We were the underdogs. The whole county knows that. So we had nowhere to go but up. So we went up."

Land O'Lakes finished first or second in every event and swept the 200 individual medley and diving events. The Gators (9-0) were led by freshman Stephanie Allen, who won the 200 IM and 100 breast, and was part of the first-place 200 and 400 free relays. Sophomore Nikki Walters also excelled, setting a school record with her second-place finish in the 50 free (26.79). Walters also finished second to the Mustangs (8-1) in the 100 free and 200 free relay, and was part of the first-place 400 free relay.

While the Land O'Lakes girls ended one streak, the Gator boys continued theirs.

The Gators (9-0) won eight of 12 events to cruise to a 118.5-65.5 win over the previously unbeaten Mustangs (8-1) to finish undefeated in the regular season for the sixth year in a row.

Land O'Lakes was paced by Tim Olson, who set a school record with a 48.87 in the 100 free. The three-time state qualifier also was part of the Gators' 200 free relay and 400 free relay teams.

[Last modified October 12, 2006, 05:33:39]