American relay

Swimming World and Junior Swimmer, May 2003

California

Ryan Garcia of West Coast Aquatics bettered two 11-12 boys Pacific Swimming records at the St. Valentine's Weekend Meet, Feb. 22-23, in Napa. Ryan posted times of 2:07.10 in the 200 yard back and 2:11.63 in the 200 fly.

Florida

The Clearwater Aquatic Team (cat) took fifth place out of 38 teams at the Florida Swimming Junior Olympic Championships in Orlando, March 6-9. CAT was awarded the 2003 Florida Swimming Spirit Award. The 11-12 boys won the high-point trophy for their age group. Clay Bullock was the top 13-14 boy of the meet, winning all six events in which he swam (200 yard free, Florida LSC record 1:44.95; 500 free, 4:41.68; 1000 free, 9:34.74; 1650 free, 16:14.54; 100 fly, 53.19; 200 fly, 1:57.00). Jose Crescimbeni was tops in the 11-12 boys 50-100 fly (26.40-58.08) and 100 IM (1:00.20); the 11-12 boys squad of Cameron Martin, Matt Weinschenker, Crescimbeni and James Taddeo won state titles in the 200 medley (1:59.23), 400 medley (4:19.31) and 400 free (3:51.86) relays.

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At the Florida Swimming Senior Championships, held in Clearwater, Feb. 27-March 2, CAT won the team runner-up trophy and the women's championship. The team was led by 15-16 high-point champ Caitlin Warner, winner of the 15-16 girls 400 IM (4:37.37) and 1650 free (17:18.71). She was also a member of the winning 800 free relay, along with Sarah Michael, Cindy Rosal and Kassie Schmidt, that achieved a junior national time standard (7:44.67). The senior men's 800 free relay of Grant Johnson, Clay Bullock, Craig Coghlan and Jay Carpenter won with a U.S. Open qualifying time of 6:58.24. Individual event winners included Grant Johnson (200 free, 1:41.90) and Erin Hill (100 breast, 1:09.32).

Nebraska

The Crusaders of Marian High School in Omaha earned their fourth straight state swimming and diving title (eighth overall). The team scored 269 points, despite having their 400 free relay disqualified in prelims. Beth Roach (100 yard free, 51.18; 200 free, 1:51.80) and Karen Criss (100 back, 57.40; 200 IM, 2:04.82) won two events each for the Crusaders; also winning individual championships were Erin Holtmeyer (50 free, 23.39) and Jenn Kocsis (500 free, 4:58.12). In addition, the 200 free relay of Michelle Criss, Roach, Kocsis and Holtmeyer set a state record 1:35.03. Beth Roach was named swimmer of the meet. The Crusaders' coach, Patrick DiBiase, was selected Nebraska High School Coach of the Year.

Texas

Blue Tide Aquatics of Houston recently captured fourth place overall and first place among 11-12 girls at the 21st annual Nike Greater Southwest Invitational, hosted by the City of Plano Swimmers. Blue Tide event winners included Brian Bolton (10-and-under boys 100 free, 50 back), Eric Olesen (13-14 boys 200 back) and the 10-and-under girls 200 free relay of Bailey Longhofer, Laura Spurlock, Danielle Meara and Michelle Gean. The 11-12 girls who helped capture their overall high-point title were Kayla Barker, Kelsey Fitzpatrick, Francine Grossey, Samantha Johannsen, Chelsie Kidd, Merritt Krawczyk, Dannye Osburn, Allee Russell, Audrea Stanton, Kim Summers, Holly Tipton, Megan Vance and Emily Walters.

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At the American Short Course Championshpis held at the Lee and Joe Jamail Swim Center in Austin, Circle C set a national age group record in the 17-18 boys 400 yard medley relay. The team, composed of Will Sarosdy (back), Alejandro Jacobo (breast), Adam Preston (fly) and Garrett Weber-Gale (free), set a new standard of 3:19.41, breaking the old mark by over 1.5 seconds. This is the second time the team has broken a NAG mark; they missed a third (in the 200 medley relay) by just 14-hundredths of a second.

Virginia

The Collegiate School of Richmond had nine swimmers earn 18 all-state accolades in setting 10 school records at the recent Virginia State Independent School Championships, swum at the University of Virginia. The Collegiate boys team, consisting of five swimmers and two divers, finished in a tie for sixth, while the girls placed third. The All-American swimmers included Grant Steadman, Mark Wayne Sisk, Andrew Sellergren, Evan Kelly, Susan Cook, Katie Lundvall, Sarah Ailsworth, Caroline Kelley and Tyler Gordon. The girls team finished their dual meet season at 9-1. Their lone defeat was only the second loss in the program's 10-year-history. Collegiate has no home pool, and is now 90-2 in dual meets. The team is coached by Mike Stott, father of their previous coach, David Stott.

Virginia

At the age of 9, Sarah Bateman began swimming because she loved the sport, and her doctor suggested it might help her asthma. Since then, she has made a lot of friends and has done very well in swimming.

Sarah has made the Florida Swimming All-Star team for the last four years and the Florida Zone team for the last two. At last summer's Southern Zone meet in San Antonio, Texas, July 30-Aug. 2, Sarah placed first in the 50 meter breast (36.20), second in the 50 fly (30.57) and 50 back (32.02), third in the 100 fly (1:08.71) and fifth in the 50 free (28.66).

She has also been on the national age group ranking lists during the past three years. As an 11-year-old last year, she was tied for third in the nation in the 50 yard breast (35.38), fourth in the 50 back (32.02), fifth in the 50 fly (29.96, new Florida Junior Olympic record) and 16th in the 50 free (28.32).