Countryside wins 25 relays to keep PCL swim crown

By NANCY MORGAN

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 25, 2000

History repeated itself this month when Countryside Country Club Aquatics successfully defended its Private Club League Relays Championship among nine teams.

Countryside won 16 of the girls relays, including all five in the 8-and-under division, and nine of the boys. It also finished second in four girls relays and seven boys.

"I was somewhat surprised in our winning," said Sue Curnutte, Countryside's coach. "You never know how these meets are going to turn out. Our bread and butter is, and always has been, the younger age group. We were pretty much in full force for this meet."

Countryside took advantage of its 150-plus swimmers to score 1,088 points and overtake host Palma Ceia Country Club of Tampa. The Bardmoor Aquatics Team was fourth and Lakewood Country Club ninth.

Representing Countryside in the five girls 8-and-under relay events were Rebecca Howard, Caroline Brown, Ali Robertson, Kaitlin Froehling, Erin Gryncewicz and Erin Cole.

In the 11-12 boys competition, Countryside's Aaron Haas, Derek Hensley, Ryan Stumph and Levi Curnutte won the 200 freestyle relay; Haas, Curnutte, Hensley and Matt Stumph won the 200 backstroke, and Haas, Curnutte, Hensley and Thomas Harrington won the 200 medley.

Countryside's Dana Fredericks, Madison Trulick and Julianne Tsagaris teamed with April Hensley to win the girls 10-and-under 200 backstroke relay and with Natalie Mary to win the 200 breaststroke.

In 11-12 girls, Caitlin Gross, Leah Braukman, Lauren Roberston and Kylie Kastes teamed to win both the 200 freestyle and 200 medley. Shannon McGuire, Lisa Austin and Courtney Childress swam with Kit Doyle to win the girls 13-14 200 breaststroke and with Jenny Cole to win the 200 freestyle. Froehling, Tsargaris, Braukman, McGuire and Childress won the girls crescendo event.

Other Countryside boys relay winners were Steven Sabadosh, Scott Sullivan, Stephen Tsargaris and Brendan Rapp in the 8-and-under 100 medley and 100 backstroke; Kurt Stumph, Weston Stearns, Kenny Grubba and Cameron Martin in the 10-and-under 200 backstroke; Chris Merritt, Kellen Scott, Shawn Angel and Josh Curnutte in the senior 200 backstroke and 200 medley, and brothers Josh and Levi Curnette, Haas, Martin and Stearns in the 400 crescendo.

Bardmoor's Jeff Crawford, Andy Gray, Arjun Nanda and Dan Lewis outraced Countryside to win the 200 breaststroke, and Crawford, Gray, Nanda and Nick Vilaret won the 200 freestyle in the 13-14 division. Senior swimmers Mark Sinn, Cameron Moeller, Thayer Rasmussen and Daniel Kemler outswam Countryside for the 200 freestyle relay win, and the 10-and-under girls team of Amanda Miller, Meaghan Thomas, Allison Shirley and Tara Cromer also won.

In this month's West Florida Lightning Aquatics Lightning Invitational, Haas, 12, also won the 100 butterfly and 50 backstroke, was second in the individual medley and 50 breaststroke, and placed third in the 50 butterfly to earn high-point honors in his age group.

Nicole Margaritondo of St. Petersburg Aquatics won all nine events and high-point honors in the girls 13-14 division. Lacy Beebe of the Dunedin Aquatic Club was second overall in girls 8-and-under competition, and WFLA's Andrew Blazuk was third in 11-12.

In team scoring, host WFLA was second to Carrollwood Village of Tampa, SPA was fourth and DAC was 13th among 16 teams.

"I've won high point a time or two before and it always helps to swim all the events like I did this time," said Haas, of Clearwater. "The more events you swim the more chances you have to earn points."

Haas has been competing about three years and finds the backstroke his most natural -- and most successful -- stroke.

"Backstroke is what I usually swim in medley relays," said the Kennedy middle-schooler. "I practice it more and find it easier. For one thing, you don't have to worry about lifting your head to breathe."

Haas and the rest of the CCCA team are at the Long Center this weekend competing in the PCL Championships among 10 teams, including Bardmoor, Carlouel Yacht Club, Lakewood and Countryside from Pinellas County, and Hunter's Green Country Club, Lakeland Yacht Club, Palma Ceia, Tampa Palms, Tampa Yacht Club and Walden Lake. Hosted by the Lakeland club, the championships begin at 8:30 a.m. today and conclude around 6:30 p.m.

BASKETBALL: The Clearwater Green Wave 11-and-under girls team will compete for the AAU national championship June 30 to July 8 in Lafayette, Ind.

The team's success, said coach Fred Schaaf, is predicated on overall athleticism and the ability to play a pressing type of game.

All-around player Andreona Holloway averages about 11 points, five assists and at least six rebounds a game and is joined by post player Taylor Engert, who averages about 11 points and eight rebounds.

With an average of four assists from point guard Sydney Miller, the fast-break and transition expertise of Latoya Norris, the keen shooting and ball-handling of Katie Ferris and the off-the-bench defensive efforts of Cora Jones, the squad presents a fast-paced style of play somewhat unusual for its age, said Schaaf.

AAU rules allow up to three players to be added to a tournament-bound team and Schaaf invited Kristina Darby, Allie McLeod and Carly Benjamin from the Tampa Bay Elite. Also contributing to the Green Wave's success but unable to compete at the nationals are Chelsea Simpson, Brelin Hoffman, Meredith Moukawsher, Nicole Klepacki, Rebecca Hammond and Channing Kehoe.

DIVING: Champions at this month's Sunshine State Games in Orlando were Clearwater Aquatic Team divers Colleen Sears, Janice Haramis and Ryan Schomburg on the 1-meter board and Kaila Johnston on the 3.

Cody Dodds was first in Junior Olympic 1-meter competition for ages 10-11 and second in 3-meter, and third in JO 1-meter for ages 12-13. Josh Matson was third in JO 1-meter for ages 16-18.

ICE SKATING: The 14th annual ISI Figure Skating Competition continues through today at the SunBlades Ice Arena. More than 300 skaters from the eastern United States are competing in a variety of categories. The public is welcome at no charge. For specific competition times, call SunBlades at 536-5843.

ICE HOCKEY: Final standings in the Florida Metro Hockey League show the Thunder finishing first among four teams in the Midget Division for players age 17 and under; the Flames edging the Mustangs in the six-team Bantam Division for 14-and-unders; and the Raiders and Flames tied with 10-1 records in the 12-and-under Pee Wee Division among six teams.

For information on FMHL activities, call Alan Hunter at (813) 854-4010.

ROUNDUP: Signups for the Clearwater for Youth Jr. Tornadoes football and cheerleading programs are at the CFY office in the Long Center. Call 725-4004. ... The YMCA of Clearwater is offering basketball and football programs for ages 5-13. Call 461-9622. ... Allison Stanley is a member of the Clearwater YMCA voleyball team that recently won the 16-and-under East Coast Championship at Penn State. ... There are openings on the Clearwater Bullets 12-and-under A team. Call Ed Hofer at 725-2426.

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