Hurricanes Excel at Swim Meet

SEBRING - When you live in Florida and love the water, swimming in competitive events is never out of season.

The Highlands Hurricanes winter swim team made quite a splash in last Saturday's St. Petersburg Aquatics Morning at the Races event.

Former Sebring High swimmer Sean Spiegel won the 50-yard freestyle event with a time of 20.91 seconds to qualify for the 2007 USA Short Course National Championships, which will be held next Wednesday at the Georgia Tech Aquatic Center in Atlanta, Ga.

"That's quite an accomplishment for Sean," said Hurricanes coach Marvin Wolfe. "His goal is to qualify for the Olympic Trials next June and he is working hard toward that goal."

Hurricane teammate and Sebring junior Megan Wolfe finished third in the 50-yard freestyle with a 24.93 and also came in third in the 100-yard butterfly in 1:02.53.

Blue Streak Bryan Kirsch placed second in the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:08.78 and finished sixth in the 50-yard freestyle with a 25.74.

Sebring graduate and former state 200-yard medley relay champion Quinlan Wolfe claimed third place in the 50-yard freestyle in 23.19.

Last Sunday, the talented quartet competed in the Team Orlando November Invitational Swim Meet and Spiegel won the 50-yard freestyle in 21.01 and placed sixth in the 200-yard freestyle in 1:57.19.

Megan Wolfe won the 50 free in 24.65, finished fifth in the 100 backstroke with a 1:09.04 and came in eighth in the 200-yard freestyle in 2:05.24.

"The competition is very strong at these meets and it keeps us sharp," she said. "Plus we get to travel as a family to these events and it's fun because it's kind of like a vacation.

"There isn't a lot pressure and we look forward being together."

Kirsch finished first in the 10-yard backstroke with a 1:07.63 and Quinlan Wolfe placed fourth in the 100 backstroke in 1:03.90 and finished sixth in the 50 freestyle with a 23.04.

Next up for the Hurricanes is the Gator Swim Holiday Classic Nov. 30 through Dec. 2 at the University of Florida pool.