Hurricanes sweep boys, girls titles

PHU's girls get payback on Countryside, and the boys win for the second straight year.

By DOUG KATES, Times Correspondent
Published September 16, 2007

LARGO - Just last week, the Palm Harbor University girls swim team lost a dual to Countryside, but after the meet planned to get revenge at the Pinellas County Athletic Conference championship.

The revenge was successful Saturday night, and the Hurricanes swept both the girls and boys conference titles.

"We were so ready to go," senior Kariann Stevens said. "Everyone was excited."

"We had just lost a dual to them," junior Katie Coleman said. "We knew we had to step it up."

Countryside led 167-161 after five events, but in the 100-meter butterfly, Coleman took first and Stevens took second. The Hurricanes vaulted into the lead and didn't trail again.

The Cougars, who were the defending champions, took first place in all three relays, and Rachel Burns was a two-time individual winner in the 200- and 100-meter freestyle.

Palm Harbor finished with 437 points, Countryside tallied 414, and Northeast took third with 240 points.

On the boys' side, Palm Harbor defended its championship.

Sophomore Wes Stearns played a big part in the win. Last year, he was third in the 500-meter freestyle. This year he won the race, and his time was 15 seconds faster.

"The goal was hopefully to win and drop some time," Stearns said. "Some time turned into a lot of time."

Stearns also won the 200 freestyle, and teammate Alex Glover won the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly. Countryside sophomore Jonathan Taddeo took first in the 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke.

The Hurricanes collected 456 team points, followed by the Cougars with 354 and Clearwater with 270.

[Last modified September 16, 2007, 01:10:43]