By Sharon Robb
STUART, November 6, 2021—In one of the fastest meets in state history, Jacksonville Bolles brought out the best in every one on a wind-chilled Saturday night at Sailfish Splash Waterpark and Aquatics Center.
Bolles swept the team titles and raised the bar for every other team in the meet. The boys won with 574 points and girls with 370 points.
King’s Academy boys were second with 174.5, St. Andrew’s third with 165, South Florida Heat fourth with 159, NSU University School sixth with 102.5 and Pine Crest ninth with 92 points.
St. Andrew’s girls were runner-up with 238, Pine Crest third with 200, King’s Academy with 186, Cutler Bay fifth with 166 and South Florida Heat seventh with 118.
Bolles has won every boys state championship since 1988 and every girls title since 1991, and with 30 years of tradition on the line, Bolles kept the streak going. Bolles has now won a record 34 boys titles and 31 girls titles to continue as the state’s all-time high school swimming dynasty.
Unparalleled depth and relay excellence buoyed Bolles. Bolles won two girls relays and all three boys relays and won two individual girls events and five individual boys events.
In the boys competition, there were 40 automatic All-American times and 43 All-American consideration times posted. In the girls competition, there were 29 automatic All-American times and 33 All-American consideration times.
South Florida Aquatic Club’s Olivia Dinehart of Cutler Bay won her first state title in the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:02.28, an automatic All-American time. She was also third in the 200-yard individual medley in 2:03.61, an All-American consideration time.
SOFLO’s Maddy Smutny, also of Cutler Bay, was second in the 500-yard freestyle in 4:54.20, an All-American consideration time.
Three state records were broken during prelims and finals.
King’s Academy’s Josh Zuchowski broke the state record in the 200-yard individual medley in 1:45.51, breaking the 2004 record of 1:46.31 set by Bradley Ally of St. Thomas Aquinas. Zuchowski also won the 100-yard backstroke in 47.29. Both were automatic All-American times.
South Florida Heat sophomore Erika Pelaez broke the state record in the 100-yard backstroke in 52.34. The previous record was 52.46 set by Clara Smiddy of South Florida Heat in 2013. Pelaez also won the 50-yard freestyle in 22.29. Both were automatic All-American times.
In prelims, Bolles’ William Heck broke his own 100-yard breaststroke record in 53.64. His 2020 state record was 53.73. He went on to win the event in 53.95.
Pine Crest senior diver Kevin Mendez took his final bow on 1-meter winning his sixth consecutive state title becoming one of the state’s most decorated athletes. Mendez won with 606.75 points ahead of teammate Allen Levitis with 490.50.
The victory gave him state records in most consecutive individual titles and most individual diving titles in state history. He broke a tie of four straight that stood for 33 years with Brian Gillooly, Gateway (Kissimmee), who won from 1990-93 and Mark Ruiz, Dr. Phillips (Orlando), 1994-97. No other swimmer or diver has won six straight titles since records were kept, dating back to the 1920s.
Pine Crest’s Julia Podkoscielny won the 200-yard individual medley in a career-best 1:59.79, an automatic All-American time. The U.S. junior national team member was the only swimmer in the field to break 2 minutes. Her previous best was 2:01.89. She was also second in the 100-yard backstroke in 53.30, an automatic All-American time.
In the most exciting relay race of the night, St. Andrew’s won the girls 400-yard freestyle relay in 3:23.46 with Aspen Gersper, Nicole Aguilar, Erin Miller and Ella Martinez ahead of Bolles in 3:23.51. Gersper also won the 100-yard butterfly in 54.02.
Kaii Winkler of South Florida Heat took seconds in the 200-yard freestyle in 1:36.78 and 100-yard freestyle in 44.00. Both were automatic All-American times.
NSU University School was second in the 400-yard freestyle relay in an All-American consideration time and school record 3:08.63 with Karl Wilson Aimable, Michele Vandenbossche, Marcelo Carrion and Max Fermayer. The relay broke an eight-year-old record.
A disqualification proved costly for the Pine Crest girls. The Panthers had their top-seeded girls’ 400-yard freestyle relay disqualified in morning prelims.
The Class 3A and 4A state meets are next Friday and Saturday.
GIRLS
TEAM TOTALS
- Bolles 370, 2. St. Andrew’s 238, 3. Pine Crest 200, 4. King’s Academy 186, 5. Cutler Bay 166, 6. PK Yonge 126, 7. South Florida Heat 118, 8. Berkeley Prep 117, 9. Holy Names 91, 10. Episcopal 81, 20. Ransom Everglades 29, 26. Westminster Academy 15, 28. Carrollton 13, 31. Coral Springs Charter 10, 35. Calvary Christian 7, 42. St. John Paul II 2, 44. North Broward Prep, Benjamin 1.
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
200-yard medley relay: 1. Bolles 1:43.95 (Katherine Meyers-Labenz, Jessica Strong, Julia Murphy, Alexandra Zorn), AA-A, 2. King’s Academy 1:44.86, AA-C, 3. Cutler Bay 1:45.08 (Elena Dinehart, Olivia Dinehart, Maddy Smutny, Nat Gembicki), AA-C, 4. St. Andrew’s 1:45.10, AA-C, 5. Pine Crest 1:45.85, AA-C.
200-yard freestyle: 1. Megan McGrath, Bolles 1:48.60, AA-A, 2. Emma Sundermeyer, FOU 1:48.98, 3. Ella Martinez, STA 1:50.14, 6. Maddy Smutny, CB 1:51.19, 7. Elena Dinehart, CB 1:51.50.
200-yard individual medley: 1. Julia Podkoscielny, PC 1:59.79, AA-A, 2. Michaela Mattes, CM 2:00.71, AA-A, 3. Olivia Dinehart, CB 2:03.61, AA-C.
50-yard freestyle: 1. Erika Pelaez, SFH 22.29, AA-A, 2. Manita Sathianchokwisan, BOLL 22.38, AA-A, 3. Lillie Nesty, PKY 23.06, AA-A, 4. Ava Fasano, KA 23.51, AA-C, 6. Isabella Chambers, PC 23.67, 7. Hanna Smith, PC 23.81, 8. Alyssa Bozzuto, KA 24.12, 10. Logan Zielinski, STA 24.13, 11. Gioia Balzano, SFH 24.28, 12. Lydia Lanahan, CAL 24.37, 16. Isabella Hernandez, NB 24.72.
1-meter diving: 1. Charlotte Norman, CSNA 459.65, 2. Elle Jacobsen, HTRN 441.20, 3. Ava Anderson, PC 406.60, 4. Makenzie Blake, WA 406.00, 10. Kaeden Dunham, STA 374.90, 12. Sarah Ghadiali, PC 362.75, 14. Madison Okon, KA 342.15, 16. Sarah Napier, BEN 292.00.
100-yard butterfly: 1. Aspen Gersper, STA 54.02, AA-A, 2. Marcela Scaramuzza, WIND 54.75, AA-C, 3. Megan McGrath, BOLL 55.02, 4. Nicole Aguilar, STA 55.31, 11. Riley McCormick, CSC 57.45.
100-yard freestyle: 1. Manita Sathianchokwisan, BOLL 49.10, AA-A, 2. Lillie Nesty, PKYO 49.84, AA-A, 3. Adele Sands, CARW 51.50, 4. Hanna Smith, PC 51.68, 6. Isabella Chambers, OC 52.26, 8. Logan Zielinski, STA 52.85, 9. Nat Gembicki, CB 52.08, 15. Lyda Lanahan, CAL 53.33.
500-yard freestyle: 1. Michaela Mattes, CMOO 4:45.51, AA-A, 2. Maddy Smutny, CB 4:54.20, AA-C, 3. Riley Botting, PC 4:57.05, 6. Erin Miller,. STA 5:02.85, 8. Emma Herrera, KA 5:09.17, 10. Izzy Wilson, CAR 5:01.85, 16. Paige Munna, KA 5:08.24.
200-yard freestyle relay: 1. Bolles 1:32.68, AA-A (Katherine Meyers-Labenz, Megan McGrath, Sabrina Lyn, Manita Sathianchokwisan), 2. King’s Academy 1:33.77, AA-A (Ava Fasano, Alyssa Bozzuto, Kiersten Munna, Julianna Bell), 3. Pine Crest 1:33.93, AA-A (Hanna Smith, Julia Podkoscielny, Isabella Chambers, Riley Botting), 4. St. Andrew’s 1:36.80, AA-C (Logan Zielinski, Nicole Aguilar, Nicole Casariego Mera, Erin Miller), 10. South Florida Heat 1:40.94, 11. Ransom Everglades 1:40.98.
100-yard backstroke: 1. Erika Pelaez, SFH 52.34, AA-A, 2. Julia Podkoscielny, PC 53.30, AA-A, 3. Aspen Gersper, STA 54.68, AA-A, 5. Ella Martinez, STA 56.51, 7. Elena Dinehart, CB 57.21, 8. Ava Fasano, KA 57.65, 10. Kiersten Munna, KA 58.10, 15. Samantha Schoenborn, SFH 59.87.
100-yard breaststroke: 1. Olivia Dinehart, CB 1:02.28, AA-A, 2. Marcela Scaramuzza, WIND 1:02.50, AA-A, 3. Jessica Strong, BOLL 1:02.57, AA-A, 4. Michaela Sierra, SFH 1:03.54, AA-C, 7. Alyssa Bozzuto, KA 1:04.67, 11. Sara Linn, PC 1:05.74, 12. Sophia Grubbs, CB 1:06.79, 13. Madison Sipowski, KA 1:06.99.
400-yard freestyle relay: 1. St. Andrew’s 3:23.46, AA-A, (Aspen Gersper, Nicole Aguilar, Erin Miller, Ella Martinez), 2. Bolles 3:23.51, AA-A, 3. South Florida Heat 3:29.44, AA-C, (Erika Pelaez, Gioia Balzano, Samantha Schoenborn, Michaela Sierra) 4. Cutler Bay 3:31.62 (Nat Gembicki, Olivia Dinehart, Elena Dinehart, Maddy Smutny), 7. King’s Academy 3:35.57, 14. Carrollton 3:49.12, 16. Coral Springs Charter 3:53.44.
BOYS
TEAM TOTALS
- Bolles 574, 2. King’s Academy 174.5, 3. St. Andrew’s 165, 4. South Florida Heat 159, 5. Trinity Prep 129.5, 6. NSU University School 102.5, 7. Edgewood 100, 8. Berkeley Prep 95, 9. Pine Crest 92, 10. Clearwater 87.5, 19. Miami Country Day 28, 23. Cutler Bay 17, 33. Doctors Charter 8, 35. Riviera Prep 4, 37. Oxbridge 2, 38. FAU High 1.
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS
200-yard medley relay: 1. Bolles 1:28.28 (Carter Lancaster, William Heck, Miguel Rojas Newman, Tucker Peterson), AA-A, 2. South Florida Heat 1:31.94 (Finn Winkler, Dario Martin, Nikita Efimov, Kaii Winkler), AA-A, 3. Trinity Prep 1:35.15, 5. St. Andrew’s 1:35.33, 7. King’s Academy 1:37.96, 9. NSU University School 1:37.79, 11. Pine Crest 1:39.28, 16. Cutler Bay 1:43.41.
200-yard freestyle: 1. Andres Dupont Cabrera, BOLL 1:35.90, AA-A, 2. Kaii Winkler, SFH 1:36.78, AA-A, 3. Stuart Higdon, MAC 1:36.91, AA-A.
200-yard individual medley: 1. Josh Zuchowski, KA 1:45.51, AA-A, 2. Carter Lancaster, BOLL 1:46.91, AA-A, 3. Logan Ingerick, BERK 1:49.30, AA-A, 10. Aitor Arrese-Igor, STA 1:55.53, 12. Marcelo Carrion, NSU 1:58.15.
50-yard freestyle: 1. Miguel Rojas Newman, BOLL 20.49, AA-A, 2. Andy Kravchenko, EDWD 20.53, AA-A, 3. Tyler Roberton, BERK 20.60, AA-C, 7. Kacper Rafal, STA 21.29, 8. Noah Smith, KA 21.35, 10. Noah Engstrom, KA 21.51, 11. Finn Winkler, SFH 21.54, 12. Karl Wilson Aimable, NSUS 21.62, 16. Maxim Timperman, OXB 22.12.
1-meter diving: 1. Kevin Mendez, PC 606.75, 2. Allen Levitis, PC 490.50, 3. Nicholas Santiago, TRIN 416.50, 8. Ashton Jacobi, PC 322.00, 10. Oliver Dunham, STA 273.40.
100-yard butterfly: 1. Miguel Rojas Newman, BOLL 48.26, AA-A, 2. Mason Williams, FOUN 48.43, AA-A, 3. Dylan Smiley, MCDY 48.59, AA-A, 5. Diego Balbi, STA 48.86, AA-A, 6. Dario Martin, SFH 48.87, AA-A, 9. Valerio Bonuglia, STA 50.38, 14. Nikita Efimov, SFH 51.62.
100-yard freestyle: 1. Andres Dupont Cabrera, BOLL 43.74, AA-A, 2. Kaii Winkler, SFH 44.00, AA-A, 3. Tyler Roberton, BERK 44.85, AA-A, 9. Kacper Rafal, STA 46.47, 10. Max Fermayer, NSUS 46.92, 11. Michele Vandenbossche, NSUS 47.88, 16. Maxim Timperman, OXB 48.87.
500-yard freestyle: 1. Stuart Higdon, MAC 4:24.81, AA-A, 2. Kayden Lancaster, BOLL 4:27.28, AA-A, 3. Jacob Hamlin, CCBI 4:27.30, AA-A, 6. Christian Proscia, KA 4:38.00, 8. Austin Nelson, CB 4:43.19, 13. Ivan Grass, CB 4:47.11, 15. Mario Suarez, STA 4:54.76.
200-yard freestyle relay: 1. Bolles 1:20.30, AA-A, 2. South Florida Heat 1:24.22, AA-A, (Kaii Winkler, Finn Winkler, Nikita Efimov, Dario Martin), 3. King’s Academy 1:26.83 (Josh Zuchowski, Noah Engstrom, Diego Barberna, Christian Proscia), 5. St. Andrew’s 1:27.14, 8. NSU University School 1:28.74, 9. Pine Crest 1:28.41.
100-yard backstroke: 1. Josh Zuchowski, KA 47.29, AA-A, 2. Carter Lancaster, BOLL 49.10, AA-A, 3. Tucker Peterson, BOLL 49.14, AA-A, 6. Noah Smith, KA 50.76, 9. Diego Balbi, STA 51.67, 10. Finn Winkler, SFH 51.82, 13. Aitor Arrese-Igor, STA 53.45,14. Ambrus Barcsak, STA 53.61.
100-yard breaststroke: 1. William Heck, BOLL 53.95, AA-A, 2. Harrison Herrera, BOLL 54.99, AA-A, 3. Ethan Maloney, BOLL 55.55, AA-A, 4. Dario Martin, SFH 56.02, AA-C, 10. Aiden Kohanyi, SFH 58.38, 11. Nikita Efimov, SFH 58.47, 16. Pete Pokatragool, FAU 59.52.
400-yard freestyle relay: 1. Bolles 2:58.10 (Seth Tolentino, Carter Lancaster, Andres Dupont Cabrera, Kayden Lancaster), AA-A, 2. NSU University School 3:08.63, AA-C, (Karl Wilson Aimable, Michele Vandenbossche, Marcelo Carrion, Max Fermayer), 3. St. Andrew’s 3:09.30, 4. King’s Academy 3:10.57, 10. Pine Crest, Cuter Bay DQ.
Sharon Robb can be reached at sha11cats@aol.com
http://www.swim4soflo.com