Swimmer racks up points at state games

Amy Mueller has an outstanding event, and her team places fourth among 34.

By TERRY JONES

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 16, 2000

CARROLLWOOD -- Amy Mueller wasn't trying to impress college coaches, or finish with the most points of any senior girl swimmer in the Sunshine State Games.

The 16-year-old Carrollwood resident said she went to Gainesville to have fun and see some of the best athletes in Florida.

But her 46 points were the most scored by any of the female competitors, including some collegians, in the open age group of senior girls.

Mueller and 12 teammates from the Carrollwood Village Swim Team girls squad placed fourth in girls competition in a field of 34 teams. Teams were there from Florida and other states in the Southeast.

All events at the July 6-10 series were competed in long course meters.

Mueller won the 400, 800 and 1,500 freestyle, plus the 400 individual medley. She placed third in the 200 freestyle and backstroke and fifth in the 200 butterfly.

She set a new club record in the 400 individual medley with a time of five minutes, 09.20 seconds and in the 800 freestyle with a 9:08.13.

"This was just a fun meet," Mueller said. "It was long too, five days. But there were plenty of things to do when not swimming, because there were many other sports competing too. We watched basketball, wrestling, weightlifting and many other sports during times when we had hours in between races. The meet was a good warm-up for all of us. The Junior Olympics and senior nationals are in the next couple of weeks."

The only other gold medal was won by the four 10-and-under girls, who combined for the fastest 200 freestyle relay of any team in their age group.

Gina Mayer, Carrie Foster, Emeri Lewkowicz and Adrienne Fernandez combined their speed and talent to win the 200 freestyle and place second in the 200 medley relays. Individually they each had successful swims also.

Mayer placed second in the 200 freestyle and 50 breaststroke, third in the 400 freestyle, fourth in the 100 freestyle, sixth in the 50 freestyle and eighth in the 100 breaststroke. Foster was eighth in both the 400 freestyle and 100 backstroke.

Fernandez finished second in the 50 butterfly, fourth in the 100 butterfly, sixth in the 400 freestyle, seventh in the 100 freestyle and eighth in the 200 freestyle. In a pair of butterfly events, Lewkowicz placed fifth in the 100 and seventh in the 50.

In other senior girls competition, Kristen Ashbaugh, 15, and Jackie Cavalieri, 15, also placed. Ashbaugh was third in the 200 breaststroke and seventh in the 100 breaststroke and Cavalieri sixth in the 800 freestyle.

For girls ages 11-12, Carly Cavalieri was third in the 100 and 200 backstroke, fourth in the 50 backstroke and 800 freestyle, and seventh in the 400 individual medley.

Becky Bird and Katrina Cooke placed in the girls 13-14 age group. Bird was sixth in the 1,500 freestyle and seventh in the 400 and 800 freestyle, and Cooke placed seventh in the 1,500 freestyle and eighth in the 800 freestyle.

Crystal Bickoff, Meredith Lynch and Brittany Perez helped score points and qualified to compete in the final meets of the season. The Junior Olympics are scheduled for July 20-23, and the Senior Nationals will be in the first week of August.

Only four boys swam in the meet for the Carrollwood team, Greggory Cooke, 9, Sullivan Lynch, 10, Ryan Reyes, 14, and Brad Perez, 17. Although none won gold medals, all helped score points so the combined boys and girls team from Carrollwood Village placed seventh overall in the Sunshine Games.

"This was a good meet for everyone competing," Carrollwood Village head coach Jim Kelly said. "It was a great opportunity for us to see where everyone is just before tapering and resting for the J.O.'s and senior nationals in the next few weeks."

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