Fort Washington wins despite lack of depth
Typically most swim meets are decided by depth, but last weekend the Fort Washington Sharks were able to overcome their lack of quantity with a bevy of quality efforts.
Despite having nearly 50 fewer swimmers in their Prince-Mont swim league meet with Smallwood Village, Fort Washington prevailed, 288-286, as Akela Holley and Arthur Walton recorded triples while David King, Madison Tompkins, Gabby Stevenson, Kiara Leath and Dakota Hinely each recorded a pair of victories.
Several Laurel-based teams in the Prince-Mont Swim League tuned up for Sunday's annual Laurel Invitational Meet by delivering sharp efforts in their latest dual meets. All of them will have another meet on Saturday morning before turning their attention to the invitational, set for 5 p.m. Sunday at Fairland Aquatic Center.
The West Arundel Aqua Ducks remained perfect with a 322-241 victory over the New Carrollton Recreation Dolphins. West Arundel (3-0) will host Adelphi Recreation (3-0) on Saturday in a battle of unbeaten teams before many members of the Aqua Ducks will convene at Fairland on Sunday to face swimmers from West Laurel, Montpelier and Russett.
The Russett Sharks (3-0) also kept their unblemished record intact with a 319-236 victory over Pointer Ridge. Russett will travel to face the Roger Carter Seals (2-1) this weekend.
Among the top performers for Russett on Saturday were Taylor Hicks, who won the girls' 13-14 50 butterfly (31.73 seconds), the 50 free (30.07 seconds) and the 50 backstroke (36.57 seconds). At the Laurel Invitational this weekend, Hicks and West Arundel's Kellianne Venit will renew their rivalry in at least two events. Paris Hicks won three events in the girls' 11-12 bracket for the Sharks and Everett Butler recorded a triple in the 11-12 boys' events.
After opening the Prince-Mont schedule with a 210-175 setback in an abbreviated meet, Belair Bath & Tennis recorded its second straight triumph with a 300-279 victory over previously unbeaten Maximum Velocity Propulsion.
Recent Eleanor Roosevelt High School graduate Emily Morse, a four-time Gazette-Star All-County First Team selection who is headed to the University of Delaware this fall, won three events. Morse, the 2007 Gazette-Star Girls' Swimmer of the Year, won the 15-18 girls' 50 fly (28.54), the 50 back (29.93) and the 100 IM (1:06.15).
Thomas Williams also recorded a triple for BBT on Saturday, and Steven Rigby, Addie Allen, Mark Gannett, Tyriana Evans and Taniya Evans each won two events. Matt Gannett, Charles Brother, Andrew Jennings and Chris Cranford opened the meet by taking the 200 medley relay (1:52.51). Jamie Sminkey, Maura Bayly, Nicki Schult and Patti Schult combined to edge an MVP quartet by four-tenths of a second in the girls' 200 medley relay. BBT will host Theresa Banks (2-1) this weekend.
E-mail Ted Black at tblack@gazette.net