Wolfe Tandem Dominates Invitational

Megan and Quinlan Wolfe continued their dominance of their age groups, as both took first-place trophies and plenty of top five finishes, as the Highlands Hurricanes placed sixth in the TBAY Invitational last weekend at Ed Gandy Pool Complex.

Megan Wolfe took first place in 50-meter (24.91) and 200-meter (2:00.10) freestyle and also a gold medal performance as a member of the 200-meter freestyle relay team with Emily Helterhoff, Michelle Bash and Tammi Beach.

The 17-year old Blue Streak standout had eight top-five finishes included three silver medals in the 100-meter (1:02.07) and 200-meter (2:25.15) butterfly and the 200-meter (2:20.10) backstroke.

Not to be outdone, Quinlan Wolfe, 20, placed first in the 200-meter backstroke (2:11.17) and finished second in the 100-meter (48.78) and 200-meter (1:52.55) freestyle and the 200-meter individual medley (2:10.24).

The brother/sister tandem combined to earn the Hurricanes 81 individual points.

The invitational attracted 18 teams from around the state with over 500 swimmers competing in the prestigious event.

Sean Spiegel, who recently competed at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials in Omaha, Neb., took first in all three of his events. Spiegel finished with a time of 21.22 in the 50 free, 47.78 in the 100 free and 54.58 in the 100 butterfly, while placing second as a member of the 200 freestyle relay.

At the Olympic Trials, Spiegel placed 101st in the 50-meter freestyle using the new Speedo LZR swimsuit.

Hurricanes head coach Marvin Wolfe said the new suits are amazing but are not for every swimmer.

"The suits are made for someone like Quinlan, who's bigger and stronger in the water," Wolfe said. "For Sean, it didn't give him much of an edge. It didn't matter what the outcome. We're all proud of him for achieving his goal of making it to the Trials. He proved that he belonged there."

The former Blue Streak attended college at Delta State University in Cleveland, Miss. where he still holds many Statesmen swimming and diving records. Spiegel, who was an NCAA All-American at Delta State, still holds the DSU men's record in the 50-meter freestyle (20.67), 1-meter dive (11-dive/422.10), 3-meter dive (six dive/299.15), and 3-meter dive (11 dive/474.95) and is also a member of two Delta State relays that still hold the record in the 200-yard freestyle relay and the 200-yard medley relay.

Lake Placid swimmer Tammi Beach, who is swimming with the Hurricanes over the summer, had three top ten finishes and Bryan Kirsch finished second in the 200-meter breaststroke (2:36.88) and third place in the 100-meter breaststroke (1:06.79).

Former Green Dragon standout and two-time Highlands Today Swimmer of the Year Michael Wilkes placed fourth in the 50 free (23.17) and sixth place in the 100 free (51.05) and former teammate Zach Lavoy placed ninth (1:11.81) in the 100 breaststroke.