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Tomblin, Chittum Impress At Final AP Home Meet

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Highlands Today Staff Report

Published: October 11, 2008

AVON PARK - Jenna Tomblin gave Red Devil head coach Michael Scofield a reason to celebrate on Thursday, as the Avon Park freshman won the 200-yard freestyle (2:48.58) in her event debut to solidify her status as one of AP's top up-and-coming swimmers.

"I think we've finally found her event," Scofield said. "We've used her in a lot of different events this season, but she proved that the 200 free is all hers from this point on."

Tomblin defeated Frostproof's Rebecca Giles (2:50.08) by nearly two seconds, while Avon Park's Autumn Roberts (2:56.75) came in third and Ashley Cooper placed fourth (2:57.43), with both swimmers dropping four and six seconds off their time, respectively, to lead the Red Devil girls to a 55-50 win over the Bulldogs in the dual meet.

The Frostproof boys came out on top 48-43 over the Avon Park boy's squad in the rain-shortened meet.

Times were dropping in the final home meet of the season for the Red Devils, as freshman Jamie Wirries took second (3:24.38) in the 200-yard individual medley but more importantly shaved a whopping nine seconds off her personal best.

Wirries also took first place in the diving competition with a score of 147.70 over Frostproof's Kayla Babington, who finished with 131.95.

Avon Park's Cara Worth (32.76) edged teammates Roberts (33.04) and Selina Olbuin (33.05) in the 50-yard freestyle, while Roberts and Worth, along with Brittany Murphy and Raeleigh Miller placed second (2:40.73) in the 200-yard medley relay.

On the boys side, Avon Park's 200-yard medley relay team, consisting of Drew Sedlock, Mitchell Guerndt, Nolan Jahna and John Chittum, took first place (2:07.26) by nearly seven seconds over Frostproof (2:13.74).

Sedlock placed first (27.22) in the 50-yard freestyle, while Nolan Jahna took second (2:38.50) in the 200-yard freestyle event.

Chittum finally graduated into the "200 club" in diving, as he finished with a score of 211.20 to beat his rival Caleb Hardy, who finished with a 176.30 on the night.

"I'm really happy with the progression of my dives and my continued improvement," Chittum said. "I'm totally focused on making it past regionals this season and working on adding to my degree of difficulty that's needed to make it to state."

Schofield was proud to see Chittum finally live up to his potential.

"John has been having a touch and go season and not performing up to his ability thanks to failed dives," Scofield said. "But last night, he put all those doubts to rest."

Chittum improved his personal best this season from 187 to 211 and is one of the favorites heading into districts.

Avon Park is back in the pool on next Thursday, when they travel to face cross-county rival Lake Placid at 5:30 p.m.

The Highlands Today sports department can be reached at 863-386-5841 or sports@highlandstoday.com.

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