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Devils, Dragons, Streaks Look To Make Waves

Brian Gjurgevich/Highlands Today

Sebring's Katelyn Bryan competes in the preliminaries of the 200-yard IM last week at the Class 2A-District 7 swim meet at Rowdy Gaines Pool in Winter Haven.

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By MARK PINSON

Highlands Today

Published: November 8, 2008

The Avon Park, Lake Placid and Sebring swimmers and divers are looking to make a big splash in today's regional meets.

Avon Park and Lake Placid are competing in the Class 1A-Region 2 meet at Trinity Prep in Winter Park, while Sebring competes in the Class 2A-Region 3 meet at the Northshore Pool in St. Petersburg.

The Red Devils are led by junior John Chittum, who won last week's Diistrict-5 diving competition in Winter Haven with a personal-best score of 373 points.

Chittum became the fifth consecutive Avon Park boys diver to win the district title and has the ability to finish in the top four to advance to next week's state meet.

"John is seeded fourth with his score from districts," said Avon Park diving coach Shane Wirries. "He has a lot of difficult dives and if he performs as well as he did last week he should post a good score.

"The scores are generally lower at the regional meet because the judging is a little tougher, but unless John has a really bad day he has a good chance to make it to state."

Lake Placid freshman Mark Greenauer qualified for today's diving event with a score of 293 at districts and Green Dragon sophomore Edwin Velazquez advanced with a 292.

Velazquez, Michael Trujillo and Patrick Kimrey qualified in the 200 individual medley.

Sebring's McKenzie Hargaden qualified for the girls Class 2A diving event with a score of 298.

"It's going to be tough for all of the divers from our area to make it to state," Wirries said. "The private schools have some really talented divers and the competition, especially in the girls meet, is really tough.

"Our kids just need to stay focused, execute their dives and do the best they can."

Avon Park freshman Mitchell Guerndt is competing in the 100 butterfly and junior Tyler King is in the 200 freestyle.

"Mitchell needs to have a good day to move on to state," said Red Devil coach Quinlan Wolfe. "We've been working with him on his technique and his turns and he's looking forward to the challenge.

"Tyler is seeded low, but he just needs to stay focused and swim his best."

Lake Placid sophomore Kevin Smit won the 200-yard individual medley, placed second in the 100 butterfly and was a member of the winning 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay teams.

"It was cold at districts and I hope it's warmer for the regional meet," Smit said. "The competition is going to be tough, but I just want to keep lowering my times."

Lake Placid sophomore Dylan-Weber Callahan won the 200 freestyle, placed second in the 100 backstroke and was a member of the wining 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay quartets.

Green Dragon junior Tammi Beach won the 200 freestyle, placed second in the 100 freestyle and was a member of the quartet that finished second in the 200 medley relay.

Lake Placid junior Marbelly Creel finished third in the 100 butterfly and the 200 individual medley and was a member of the group that placed second in the 200 freestyle relay.

"We had a good day at districts despite the cold," said Green Dragon coach Tom Creel. "We have trained hard because we know the competition will be tougher at the regional meet."

Sebring is led by senior Megan Wolfe who is competing in the 50 free, the 100 butterfly, 200 medley relay and the 200 free relay.

"I took it easy at districts because it was freezing," Wolfe said. "I have the best chance to qualify in the individual events and I want to finish in the top four.

"If I don't win that's all right, I just want to make it to state."

Blue Streaks Paige Giller and Julie Kirsch are in the 100 free and Brian Miller and senior Bryan Kirsch are competing in the 100 breaststroke.

""We had a good week of practice and I'm feeling pretty good heading into the regionals," said Bryan Kirsch. "My times in training have been good and I just want to keep going lower and make it to state.

"We're all excited about possibly making it to state because that's been our goal all season and this is my last chance."

Sebring at Class 2A-Region 3 Meet

at Northshore Pool, St. Pete

TODAY at 9 a.m.

COST $6

AP, LP at Class 1A-Region 2 Meet

at Trinity Prep, Winter Park

TODAY at 9 a.m.

COST $6

Mark Pinson can be reached at 863-385-5837 or mpinson@highlandstoday.com

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