By David Wagner
The Crozet Gators Swim Team lost by the narrowest of margins (22 points) to ACAC in an early season Jefferson Swim League dual meet June 22. They looked to bounce back from that loss June 29 as they traveled to Fry Spring’s Beach Club. Crozet missed a number of their top swimmers in the ACAC meet but were back at full-strength at Fry Spring’s and it made all the difference as Crozet won the meet by a final score of 569-495.
After the meet opening 200 Medley Relays, the teams were tied at 60 points apiece and then the Gators took control. In the 8 and under boys, Nate Dixon was first in the 50 Free and took second place in the 25 Breast and Butterfly while Braden Fuller took first in the 25 Backstroke and third place in the 25 Free and 25 Fly. In the 8 and under girls division Elizabeth Haslam earned first place honors in the 25 Breast and Fly and took second place in the 50 Free. Miller Grimes had a good meet as well, taking first place in the 25 Free and second place in both the 25 Back and 25 Fly.
In the 9-10 boys division Jack Burr was a force as usual. Burr finished first in the 50 Breast, 50 Back, second in the 50 Fly and was a member of the first place 200 Medley Relay team. Thomas Heilman dominated as well, garnering first place finishes in the 100 Free and 50 Fly while earning second place in the 50 Backstroke. In the 9-10 girls group Noa Steven and Hannah Shannon took care of business for the Gators. Steven won the 50 Free and 50 Back and was second in the 100 Free. Shannon was first in the 50 Breast, 50 Fly and was third in the 100 Freestyle.
Noah Johnson and Matthew Heilman weren’t to be outdone in the 11-12 boys. Johnson was first in 50 Back, 100 Free, the 200 Medley Relay and was second in the 50 Free. Heilman took second place ribbons in the 50 Breast, 50 Fly, 100 Free and was also a member of the 200 Medley winning relay team.
In the 11-12 girls Julie and Libby Addison were a tag team wrecking crew. Julie ended the night with four first place finishes. She won the 50 Breast, 50 Back and the 100 Free. She was also a member of the winning 200 Medley relay team. Libby Addison won the 50 Free and took second place in the 50 Fly, along with her first place on the 200 Medley Relay team.
The 13-14 boys kept the momentum rolling for Crozet as Stephane Karp, Andrew Holzwarth and Max Tracey continued the Gators’ dominance. Karp had four first place finishes on the night, too. Three individuals (50 Free, 50 Back, 100 Free), and was a 200 Medley Relay winner. Holzwarth took first place in the 50 Breast, 50 Fly and a second in the 100 Free and was on the winning 200 Medley relay team. Max Tracey joined Karp and Holzwarth on the 200 Medley relay while finishing second in the 50 Back and third place in the 50 Free and 50 Fly.
Sophie O’Donnell led the way for the 13-14 girls with two first place finishes (50 Fly, 100 Free), and a second in the 50 Breast. Ashna Nitzsche gained valuable points for Crozet as well, finishing third in the 50 Back and 100 Free and fourth in the 50 Free.
The 15-18 Boy’s made a good showing also. Jason Heilman, Zach Bowen and Evan Sposato put forth strong efforts to combine for 52 points on the night. Heilman was first in the 50 Free and third in the 50 Fly. Bowen took second place in the 50 Free and 100 Free, along with a fourth place in the 50 Fly. Sposato was second in the 50 backstroke and third in both the 50 Breast and 100 Free. The 15-18 girls were led by Colleen Farabaugh and Jesse Dugan. Farabaugh took first in the 50 Free and earned second place honors in the 50 Breast and 100 Free. Dugan added two second-place finishes (50 Back, 50 Fly) and was seventh in the 50 Free. Dugan and Farabaugh combined for 40 more points.
Crozet controlled the meet other than the opening relays. Out of 50 different individual events the Gators nabbed the top two spots in 19 of those events. In the end it was too much to overcome for Fry Spring’s and Crozet got the win.
The Gators will be in action again on Wednesday July 13. Crozet will be at home against Fairview on July 20 in what will most likely be the most intense and exciting meet of the season. Start time for all meets is 6 p.m. Come on out and support your local swimmers.
