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Tuesday's Frederick County Swimming Championships at Walkersville High was not short on contained drama and excitement, as the host Lions captured their first ever boys title, 124-114.50 over second place Gov. Thomas Johnson. Urbana came in third with 84.

TJ gave the Lions everything they had, and with only two events remaining, TJ clung to an 88.5-88 advantage. Much of TJ's success was contributed to the individual performance of senior Will Goundry. Goundry finished first in the 100 yard butterfly, the 200 individual medley and was part of the first place 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relay teams.

Walkersville looked to the boys 100 breaststroke as its ticket to a championship. Sophomore Kent Southern captured first place in the event and the Lions finished with four swimmers in the top eight of the event.

"I knew before the county meet that it was going to come down to the breaststroke and the 400 free medley relay, so we were more than ready," said Walkersville head coach Peggy Patschak.

Despite losing to TJ in the final event, the 400 freestyle relay, the four top eight finishers garnered Walkersville enough points to prevail as county champs.

"I could hear the crowd screaming as a dull roar in my [swim]cap, and I kind of had this out-of -body experience of ‘I can do this'," said Southern of his final lap of the breaststroke, "I don't want to say I got lucky, but I kind of did."

Despite finishing fourth overall Frederick's Jake Carlsen led the way for the Cadets finishing first in the 100 yard backstroke, the 200 boys freestyle and the 200 freestyle relay. Carlsen accounted for 36 of his team's 80 points.

Urbana dominated the girls competition by a 170-97 margin over Thomas Johnson. The Hawks captured first place in the girls 200 freestyle relay, the 200 medley relay, the 100 butterfly, 100 backstroke and the 400 free medley relay. Middletown was third with 69 points.

In the process of taking first in five events, the relay team of seniors JoAnna Yeh, Cassie Sorna, junior Amanda Sorna and sophomore Alexa Santis set the county record for the 400 free medley relay. Yeh also set the record in the 100 butterfly.

"People need to come out here and see how exciting [ the Frederick County swim meet] is, it is awesome," said Patschak.