Carrollwood swimmers win West Florida invitational

By TERRY JONES

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 23, 2000

CARROLLWOOD -- The Carrollwood Village Swim Team took 21 firsts to win the West Florida Lightning Aquatics Summer Invitational last weekend in Largo.

The Carrollwood swimmers scored 694 points, followed by host Largo's 599.5 and North Palm Beach with 577.

"As a team, winning this meet was a real boost for us going into the championship meet season," said Carrollwood coach Jim Kelly. "It gave many of our kids needed confidence. "Next we go into the resting season. That is the time the kids taper down laps and training to conserve energy for the big meets."

Self-discipline is part of the tapering training. The young athletes must prepare themselves by going to bed early. "These kids work hard to do well in swimming, and some of the sacrifices are tough, especially for high school kids," Kelly said.

Of 120 Carrollwood Swim team members, about three dozen qualified to compete in the Summer Invitational.

Girls 16-17: Amy Mueller, 16, won the 400 individual medley, the 400 freestyle and the 1,500 freestyle. She also placed third in the 200 freestyle.

Allison Kirkwood, 17, won the 50 freestyle, swimming for the Barracuda Swim Club in the Town 'N Country area.

Girls 14-15: Crystal Bickoff won the 200 individual medley and was second in the 400 individual medley and 100 and 200 butterfly and third in the 200 breaststroke.

Kristen Ashbaugh won the 100 and 200 breaststroke, and Becky Bird placed third in the 400 freestyle.

Girls 11-12: Carly Cavalieri won the 50 breaststroke and 100 backstroke. She placed third in the 50 backstroke, 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke.

Girls 10 and under: Gina Mayer won the 400 freestyle, the 200 freestyle and the 200 individual medley. Adrienne Fernandez won the 100 freestyle, placed second in the 50 and 100 butterfly and 200 freestyle and third in the 50 backstroke and 200 individual medley.

Melanie Schlenker placed third in the 50 breaststroke.

Boys 16-17: Brad Perez placed third in the 200 butterfly.

Boys 14-15: Ryan Keyes and Grant Nelson of the Carrollwood team, and Andy Helvenston of the Barracudas took gold medals.

Keyes won the 100 backstroke, freestyle and butterfly, 50 freestyle and 200 freestyle. He placed second in the 200 backstroke and the 200 individual medley.

Nelson won the 400 individual medley, 200 butterfly and the 400 freestyle. In addition, he placed second in the 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly and third in the 200 backstroke.

Helvenston won the 200 breast and backstrokes and placed second in the 100 and 200 freestyle and 100 breaststroke.

Boys 11-12: Steven Sheridan, 11, placed third in the 100 butterfly.

Boys 10 and under: Sullivan Lynch won the 100 freestyle, second in the 50 and 100 butterfly, 50, 100, 400 and 200 freestyle and 50 backstroke and third in the 100 backstroke.

Jonathan Jordan, of the Barracudas, placed third overall.

Qualified members of the team will compete in the Sunshine State Games July 6-9 in Gainesville, the Junior Olympics July 21-23 in Orlando, the Senior Championships July 20-30 in Fort Lauderdale and the Junior Nationals Aug. 1-5 in Houston.

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