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Pirates have big weapon in Year 2
By STEVE LEE
© St. Petersburg Times, DADE CITY -- As Brett Clark goes, so go the Pirates. So says Pasco coach Russ Rosenbauer, who insists the junior co-captain is an exemplary leader of the boys' second-year squad. Clark, who transferred from Durant before last season when his family relocated to Dade City, became the school's first male state qualifier when he swam the 100-yard butterfly and 200 individual medley. He was joined by Ross Coscia, Dustin Ballard and Davy Johnson in the 200 medley relay in Orlando. While Clark and his team failed to break the top 20 in those events, Rosenbauer is optimistic that Clark will once again qualify for state and do better. Rosenbauer worked with Clark and other Pasco swimmers this summer on the coach's second-year club team, the East Pasco Piranhas. "He's our all-around," Rosenbauer said. "He can jump in any event and do well for us." Clark swam numerous events before winning a district title in the 100 fly and winding up as district runner-up in the 200 IM. Clark, Ballard (who graduated), Coscia and Johnson enabled the Pasco boys to win six dual meets in the program's first season. By comparison, first-year Mitchell did not win a meet last year. "The boys did very well, primarily because of Brett," Rosenbauer said. "Brett was a threat against all the other boys (on opposing teams)." Rosenbauer said Clark, who trained with the Brandon Blue Wave club team, sets the pace at practice and the Pirates follow. "He's providing an incentive for the others to catch him and they in turn are pushing him by coming up behind him," Rosenbauer said. "They're moving forward. It's a real good dynamic on my team." The Pirates list 15 boys on the roster, five more than last season. That depth, and a talented group led by Clark, Rosenbauer said, should lead to more victories this year.
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