Warhawks senior goes out with a title

After steady progression at state in the 100 backstroke, Andrew Blazuk finally wins.

By BOB PUTNAM
Published November 3, 2006

FORT LAUDERDALE - Zipping effortlessly through the water, Seminole's Andrew Blazuk touched home in the 100 backstroke Thursday.

But it seemed as if he did so simultaneously with other rivals. So Blazuk anxiously looked up at the scoreboard, then gasped when it flashed a winning time of 54.18 seconds.

His steady rise in the event was now complete.

Blazuk, who finished eighth as a freshman, sixth as a sophomore and third as a junior, capped off his high school career by finally winning an individual title at state.

"It was such a relief," he said.

Blazuk's title helped erase the disappointment of a fourth-place finish in the 100 free, an event in which he was seeded first.

"My goal was to win the 100 back and come in the top three in the 100 free," Blazuk said. "I came close, but I'm so glad to win one."

Blazuk also teamed with Andrew Gottschling, Jordon Hawkins and Paul Hoffman to place fourth with the 200 medley 1:43.18 and 400 free (3:21.05) relay teams.

The Warhawks tied Northeast for fourth overall.

The Vikings' Russell Snyder was third in the 100 breast (1:00.84) and P.J. Bennett was third in diving.

Clearwater's Adam Corbin was third in the 200 individual medley (1:58.51) and sixth in the 100 breast (1:00.98).

Bob Putnam can be reached at putnam@sptimes.com or ( 727) 445-4169.

[Last modified November 3, 2006, 06:19:36]