A 'Lone Wolfe' Moves On

ORLANDO - Megan Wolfe is hoping history will repeat itself, and the Sebring girls 200-yard freestyle relay squad is hoping for a little redemption after the preliminary portion of the Class 2A state swimming meet at the Central Florida YMCA Aquatic Center.

Wolfe swam a 24.67 in her preliminary 50-free run, good enough for the fifth seed heading into Friday night's final. Last year, the then-sophomore was the eighth seed heading into the finals and swam her way to a tie for third place.

Needless to say, Wolfe is looking for a repeat performance.

"I went from eighth to third last year, so I should be able to go from fifth to first, right?" Wolfe joked. "I felt like I could've gone faster than I did in prelims, but I always feel like that."
The girls 200-freestyle relay team was hardly upset after their disappointing 8th-place finish in their preliminary heat, but the team threw around that very word when looking forward to the consolation final. The Streaks were seeded 16th heading into the evening race.

"We feel like we can win [theconsolation final], and pull off the upset" said Sebring senior Katie Havery, before swimming in her final high school race. "Our goal all season was to make state, and I think once we got here, we didn't set a new goal for ourselves.

"But we have one now."

Sebring junior Bryan Kirsch also ran into trouble in prelims. He was disqualified for a non-simultaneous touch and did not post a final time in the 100-breaststroke.
Still, Sebring boys coach Cheryl Parsons said the junior gained valuable experience for next season.
"He's very hungry for the win and he always gets after it," she said. "He needs to concentrate a bit more on his touches, because those are big."

Shanaan Spiegel ended his prep swimming career with a career-best 59.03 in the 100-backstroke, good enough for 22nd in state. He said he started well and felt good for the first 50 yards, but began to lose his stroke down the stretch.

Spiegel noted he was happy with how he finished and was looking forward to ditching the swimsuit for a one-piece when he joins the wrestling team next week.

"I've been swimming since I was four, so it's nice to go out with a personal best," he said. "Swimming helps me stay in shape for wrestling - the team's been practicing for a week, but I'll walk in and be in better shape than a lot of them."

The 200-free team of Wolfe, Havery, Katie Bullard and Leeza Freeland swam a consolation final match on Friday night, while Wolfe swam in the finals of the 50-free. Results were not available as of press time, and a full wrap-up will appear in Sunday's Highlands Today.