Preps

Hillsborough: Midseason swimming report

By JOE SMITH, Times Staff Writer
Published October 4, 2007

TAMPA - Rarely do swimmers bruise ribs and break their goggles midrace.

But for open-water competitors like Jesuit junior Vinny Donnelly, it comes with the territory.

With a 15th-place performance at the Open Water 10K National Championships in June, Donnelly became, at age 15, the youngest swimmer to qualify for the Olympic Trials, set for Oct. 20-21 off Estero Beach.

To complete the feat, Donnelly fought with a scrappy pack of 30 swimmers, kicking, scratching and drafting; he bruised ribs, nearly lost his goggles - and lost his lunch twice from seasickness.

"It does get a little frightening," Donnelly said.

"You go about 500 meters off the coast, you're by yourself and wondering what type of bottom is below you."

The daring distance in open water makes the 200- and 500-meter freestyle races which Donnelly placed eighth in at state last year seem like a sprint.

Take Two

Jason Taylor, Newsome junior

Taylor, a state placer in two events last season, boasts the county's top 100 fly time (52.97) and sparked the county's top 200 medley relay team (1:44.02).

Favorite TV show: House

Must-read book: Harry Potter

Favorite restaurant: Outback Steakhouse

Top artist in iPod: Lil Wayne

Favorite class: History

Conor Swanson, Sickles junior

Swanson broke the school's longest-standing record (2000) with a 1:48.62 in the 200 free. But it's the 100 backstroke (county-best 54.82) where he's a state-title contender.

Favorite TV show: Family Guy

Must-read book: Harry Potter

Favorite restaurant: Longhorn Steakhouse

Top artist in iPod: Linkin Park

Favorite class: Engineering or math

Top freshman

Katie Cook, Sickles: Following in the footsteps of her older sisters - and former Gryphons standouts Amanda and Megan - Cook has broken two school records (100 free, 54.56) and 200 IM (2:15.86).

Top story line

Newsome: Many thought the Wolves would have a strong team, but their depth has made them the county's best (boys and girls). The spark? Newsome winning its first City Relays Championship, a prestigious county event.

Old reliables

Plant junior Meg Anderson is up to her old tricks; the defending 2A champ in the 500 free and runnerup in 100 free is the lone county swimmer to break 24 in the 50 free (23.84).

Berkeley Prep senior Jonathan Jordan, a wakeboarder and CSI fan, carries the Bucs' load (top time in the 200 and 500 free).

Divers to watch:

Kyle Dent, Jr., Berkeley Prep: Summer growth spurt sprouted him over 6 feet; perennial state-qualifier's dives have risen to new heights.

Christopher Plante, Sr., Durant: Captured fourth at state last year.

Alex Valder, So., Sickles: Advanced to regionals as a freshman.

Fab Five

Boys

1. Newsome

2. Sickles

3. Jesuit

4. Tampa Prep

5. Berkeley Prep

Girls

1. Newsome

2. Sickles

3. Plant

4. Wharton

5. Berkeley Prep

Key dates

Saturday: FSPA Meet in Orlando, 8 a.m. (Central Florida YMCA facility): The prestigious coed meet brings together some of the state's best swimmers in all classes.

Districts: Oct. 15-20

Regions: Oct. 25-27

State: Nov. 1 (A), Nov. 2 (2A), Nov. 3 (3A)

Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@sptimes.com or (813) 310-9024.

County honor roll

Boys

200 medley: Newsome, (Taylor, Ans, Ju. Waterman, Ja. Waterman) 1:44.02; 200 free: Berkeley Prep, Jordan 1:46.99; 200 IM: Sickles, Swanson 2:00.47; 50 free: Sickles, Cooke 22.02; Diving: Jesuit, Garcia 273.60; 100 fly: Newsome, Taylor 52.97; 100 free: Sickles, Cooke 49.19; 500 free: Berkeley Prep, 4:45.54; 200 free relay: Sickles, (Cooke, Davis, Went, Swanson) 1:32.24; 100 back: Sickles, Swanson 54.82; 100 breast: Tampa Prep, Stumpf 1:02.34; 400 free relay: Sickles, (Cooke, Davis, Went, Swanson) 3:25.14

Girls

200 medley: Sickles, (Foster, Cooke, Westbrook, Case) 1:57.93; 200 free: Newsome, Milne 1:59.76; 200 IM: Berkeley Prep, Jordan 2:15.83; 50 free: Plant, Anderson .23.84; Diving: Middleton, Page 304.60; 100 fly: Sickles, Case 1:00.20; 100 free: Plant, Anderson .54.08; 500 free: Wharton, Menedez 5:13.63; 200 free relay: Sickles, (Cooke, Foster, Westbrook, Case) 1:41.53; 100 back: Newsome, Ke. Kyle 59.95; 100 breast: Sickles, Case 1:10.42; 400 free relay: Sickles, (Cooke, Foster, Westbrook, Case) 3:43.31

[Last modified October 3, 2007, 23:12:03]