Streaks secure region spots

At least four Sebring swimmers advanced to next week's regional swim meet after strong performances Thursday in the Class 2A-District 7 competition at Rowdy Gaines Pool.

Brian Miller (breaststroke), Michael Bickman (butterfly), Kara Burger (butterfly) and McKenzie Hargaden (diving) moved on to regionals, which is next Friday in St. Petersburg. Sebring coach Pat Caton said Thursday night that more Blue Streaks could join the regional field when the results are finalized this weekend.

"We had a few swimmers who placed second and a lot of kids who wound up making the finals that we didn't even think would make it," Caton said. "Overall, our team performed a lot better than what we had expected."

Miller came in first in the 100-yard breaststroke, finishing in 1:09.39, more than 2 seconds ahead of Winter Haven's Harrison Klerk. Miller also was part of the Blue Streaks' third-place 200-yard medley relay team, with George Dumont, Josh Heflin and Bickman.

Bickman placed first in the 100-yard butterfly finals, finishing in 1:01.78 and edging Winter Haven's Ward Attaway, who touched the wall in 1:01.86.

Burger, in her first year with the Blue Streaks, was part of Sebring's third-place 200-yard medley relay team - with Katelyn Bryan, Marissa Parsons and Julie Kirsch - finished second in the 200-yard individual medley relay and placed first in the girls 100-yard butterfly, her best event.

Hargaden gained 352 points in the diving event to qualify for regionals (280 points needed to advance).

"A lot of our kids had phenomenal best times," coach Cheryl Parsons said.

Kirsch also had a strong district meet, improving her chances for gaining an at-large berth to regionals. She placed second in the 50- and 100-yard freestyle, finishing in 27.83 seconds and 1:01.29, respectively.

Caton was pleased with the progress of Davis Crowe, Larissa Fantetti and Teaoni Coker, all of whom saved their season-best runs for the district meet.

"Probably 95 percent of the kids that we took dropped times," Parsons said. "That's what the whole year is about: Building up to this point, and the kids did a great job."