Crystal River boys should set pace

By CAREY FREEMAN

© St. Petersburg Times, published November 7, 2000

Maybe it's just the nature of a 10-team district that there will be at least a little mystery entering the championships.

As it is, no team possibly could schedule and swim against all 10 members, giving rise to much speculation as to who is and who isn't a contender.

Yet, for all the questions entering today's Class A, District 3 Championships at the University of Florida's O'Connell Center, one thing remains constant: Crystal River.

The Pirates have won a total of seven district titles over the last five seasons, including five straight from the Crystal River boys. That said, we know who one of the contenders will be.

The questions revolve around just which of the other nine programs will be Crystal River's biggest challenger.

"That's the mystery," Pirates coach Tim Holme said. "We've gone against most of the teams, but not all.

"We don't swim against Umatilla, Tavares or Mt. Dora, and the Eustis girls are the only girls' team to beat our girls. We know they have good swimmers over there (in Lake County), but they're not all at the same school."

So Holme and his Pirates will have to wait and see which challenger emerges.

For the Crystal River boys, it may not matter. As usual, Holme is stocked. That should carry the Pirates to their sixth consecutive crown.

They are undefeated this season and boast a lineup that includes no less than six boys Holme fully expects to qualify for next week's state championships.

The real fight should come on the girls' side, where Crystal River and Citrus will do their best to unseat Eustis, which has beaten both teams this season.

One thing the Hurricanes and Pirates have in common is that neither has a large stock of dominating individuals.

Citrus will rest its hopes on the efforts of two-sport star Lauren Gaffney. She will swim in the 200 individual medley, the 100 backstroke and two relays, then head to Titusville to compete with the Hurricanes' cross country team in this Saturdays regional meet.

In addition to Gaffney, Citrus will be looking for strong performances from sophomore freestyler Megan St. Clair and junior diver Stephanie Bird.

Crystal River counters with Cherokee Boose, who's expected to swim in the same events as Gaffney, Liz Garrick (50, 100 freestyle), Lindsay Wood (100 back, 200 free) and Rachel Carnahan (100 fly, 200 free).

One good sign for Patton is that his girls, otherwise struggling, have come up with their best performances in their biggest meets, including a two-point loss to Crystal River after falling to Central, Wesley Chapel and Springstead.

"This is our worst season ever with the girls, but they've still risen to the occasion in big meets," Patton said. We lost to teams we've never lost to before, then we give CR everything and lose by two points."

The real question, though, is whether either team has enough to stop Eustis from winning the title.

"They are strong -- real strong -- and I don't see Crystal River or us being able to stay in the same pool with them," Patton said.

"Their girls are strong from top to bottom, and they could probably win any relay they choose and win the majority of the individual events," Patton said. "I think the biggest battle will be us and Crystal River for second."

Meanwhile, for the first time in several seasons, Lecanto finds itself in a separate district from that of its local rivals.

The Panthers will be competing in the 2A-3 meet, Thursday at the Long Center in Clearwater (Diving held at New Port Richey Pool).

Short on numbers, Lecanto's Robert Chambers is focusing on individuals rather than the team championship.

The first-year coach has plenty to watch in Allison Brundage, who will swim in the 50 and 100 free -- events in which she owns district records.

Beyond Brundage, much of Lecanto's hopes rest with divers Tara Gayheart and Michelle Townsend. Gayheart, the sister of two-time district champ Chris Gayheart, recently won the GCAC title.

Central and Springstead will not have the en masse talent to compete for team titles, but they could have individuals threaten in several events.

Namely the Bears' Nathaniel Brault and Springstead's Matt Barry, both of whom set the GCAC record in the 200-yard individual medley.

Brault won the event in 2:08.14, shattering the old mark of 2:09.17, and Barry finished second in 2:08.55.

The training partners helped propel both squads to surprising GCAC finishes -- third for Central and fourth for Springstead.

Hernando is in much the same position as the Bears and Eagles in Class A, in which Carli Dofka has emerged as the Leopards' main threat.

The sophomore won the 100-yard butterfly (1:04.19) and 100-yard breaststroke (1:14.40) in the GCAC meet, helping Hernando to a fifth-place finish.

- Brant James contributed to this report.

Class A, district 3 swimming & diving

WHO: Citrus, Crystal River, Dunnellon, Eustis, Hernando, Mitchell, Mount Dora, Pasco, Tavares, Umatilla, Wesley Chapel.

WHEN: Today. Prelims begin at 9 a.m. Diving starts one hour after end of prelims. Finals scheduled for 5 p.m.

WHERE: O'Connell Center, University of Florida.

LOCAL CONTENDERS: CENTRAL -- Nathaniel Brault. Set a GCAC meet record (2:08.14) in winning the 200-yard IM. Won the GCAC 200-yard freestyle in 1:53.58. ... Elizabeth Medeiros. Second in 200-yard free style (2:14.58), and second in 500-yard free (6:08.02). HERNANDO -- Carli Dofka. Won 100-yard butterfly (1:04.19). Won 100-yard breaststroke (1:14.40). ... Meghan DeWitt. Sixth in 50-yard freestyle, three seconds off lead. Sixth in 100-yard free (1:06.06). SPRINGSTEAD -- Matt Barry. The freshman set a record in winning the 100-yard breaststroke (1:07.31). Broke GCAC mark in 200-yard IM (2:08:55), but finished second to Brault. ... Mandy Loomis. Second in 200-yard IM (2:42.78).

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