Fort Washington, Surratts enjoy divisionals

Thursday, July 27, 2006

Click here to enlarge this photo Raphael Talisman⁄the gazette Prescott Stewart of Fort Washington competes in the 50-meter breaststroke during the Prince-Mont League Division C championships at Pointer Ridge Pool in Bowie on Saturday.

In a sense, the swimmers and teams in Division C often get overshadowed by the bigger teams in the A and B divisions, but last weekend at the Division C meet at Pointer Ridge Pool in Bowie, a number of swimmers delivered superb efforts. Greenbelt Municipal won the event with 228 points, followed by Cheverly, Pointer Ridge, Adelphi, West Arundel and Fort Washington.

Greenbelt’s Maresa Like-Mathews is no stranger to county swimmers. The recent Eleanor Roosevelt High School graduate was the 2006 Star⁄Gazette Female Swimmer of the Year and a four-time first team selection. Like-Mathews, who still has one more year of Prince-Mont eligibility, won the 100-meter freestyle (1 minute, 3.72 seconds), the 50 backstroke (33.52 seconds) and the 100 individual medley (1:12.69).

Fort Washington’s Daniel Leighton, another Star⁄Gazette first-team choice from Oxon Hill High, also completed a swimming triple in Division C. Leighton won the 15-18 boys’ 50 fly (29.29) over former Clippers’ teammate Prescott Stewart, captured the 100 free (59.17) by nearly a second over Bowie High graduate Ricky Powell (PR) and edged Greenbelt’s Joseph Lau in the 50 backstroke.

Fort Washington also had a first-place showings from Don Brazelton, who won the boys’ 8-and-under 25 free (18.97) and 25 back (24.86).

Dakota Hinely won the boys’ 11-12 50 back in 38.20. On the girls’ side, Akeyla Holley finished first for Fort Washington in the 8-and-under 25 back (25.11).

Seton junior Nicole Langlois, who swims for Cheverly Swim & Racquet, chased Like-Mathews in three events. Langlois, a Star⁄Gazette first-team selection last winter, finished second in the 100 free (1:04.64), second in the 50 back (35.34) and third in the 100 IM. Another former Star⁄Gazette first-team choice, Ketrin Nielsen (High Point High), finished third in the 50 breast (41.38) for Adelphi.

In a competitive Division F meet, Surratts Swim Club finished fourth out of five teams with 220.5 points, as first-place Prince George’s Pool finished with 253.5.

Ryan Harris took first for Surratts in the boys’ 15-18 50 fly (29.53), 100 free (1:00.33) and the 100 IM (1:10.09). In the girls’ 13-14 division, Emily Grusholt took first for Surratts in the 50 free (36.87). Colleen Cribbs won the 15-18 girls’ 100 free (1:09.53), the 50 breast (41.00) and the 100 IM (1:20.31).

Nicholas Willoughby gave Surratts a third triple winner in the boys’ 13-14 50 breast (38.08), 50 back (39.35) and 100 IM (1:20.24). Savannah Cover won the girls’ 11-12 50 back (43.94). Phillip Kenlon took the boys’ 12-and-under 100 IM 1:34.83.

One week after they suffered a narrow, heartbreaking defeat in their dual meet at Takoma Park, the Belair Bath & Tennis swim team rebounded to claim the Division A title with 251 points. Takoma Park finished second with 217, followed by Strathmore Bel Pre (192), Belair Swim & Racquet (166), West Laurel (136) and Whitehall (135). Four different swimmers attained triples at Whitehall.

‘‘We had some great swims Saturday,” BBT coach Patti Bayly said. ‘‘Emily Morse won three events. She set team records in the fly and the IM. I was real proud of my mixed 8-and-under relay. Joseph Alter, Alyssa Hill, Erica Hill and Chad Williams combined for a 1:22.65, which is a big drop from the 1:36 that had to start the season. That’s really good considering that they’re not winter swim kids.”

E-mail Ted Black at tblack@gazette.net.