Dragons Swim Past Devils

AVON PARK -- Its early in the season, but the Lake Placid Green Dragons have sent a message to the other teams in the region that they are for real.

Graduations and transfers have decimated the Green Dragon roster, yet they seem to find a way to reload. The '07 edition of the Lake Placid swim team earned a victory over the Avon Park Red Devils on Tuesday.

Lake Placid senior Michael Wilkes took first place in the 200 individual medley (2:28.20), the 500 freestyle (6:25.45) and was a member of the 200 and 400 relay teams to pace the Green Dragons to the win.

In girls action, the Green Dragons took gold with a 166-109 over the Red Devils, while the boys were tested before winning 166-120 over the host team.

Avon Park's Brittany Murphy continued her dominance in the freestyle events, posting wins in the 100 free (1:07.17) and the 200 free (2:28.20), as the Red Devils looked very good in their first meet of the season.

Lake Placid is not fielding a dive team this season, but that didn't stop the dive competition from lacking excitement.

Red Devil senior Miguel Ortiz tallied a 197 in his first meet even after a miscue on his first dive cost him some points. Ortiz has shown already that he has the potential to be a threat at the state level.
"Miguel is in top form right now," Avon Park dive coach Shane Wiries said. "After blowing the first dive, he really nailed his dives. If you can be in the 200 range this early in the season, that says a lot."

First year diver John Chittum finished with a strong 159 in his inaugural competition, while senior Heather Barnes looked solid on the board and finished with a 172.05 on the day.

"I am really happy with the way our divers performed," Wiries said. "The storms killed practice for us last week and we had to come in on Monday to get some work in before our first meet."

Barnes and Ortiz both placed first in swimming events, with Barnes placing first in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:28.41, four seconds faster than teammate Lindsey Allen, who finished with a time of 1:32.19.

Ortiz won the 50 freestyle event with a time of 25.69 over teammate Will Ohdam, who took the silver with a time of 28.36.

In other girls action, Lake Placid's Shelby Lamber placed first in the 500 freestyle with a time of 6:38.12, while Alexa Murray (3:06.94) and Sydney Stewart (3:27.84) placed first and second for the Green Dragons in the 200 individual medley.

Lake Placid's Marbelly Creel battled teammate Tammie Beach in the 100 butterfly, before taking first place with a time of 1:18.50, while Beach finished with a 1:24.90.

Avon Park and Lake Placid are back in the pool on Saturday, when they take part in the Blackman Invitational in Sebring at 8 a.m.