Jesuit Swims To Region Title
Published: Oct 26, 2007
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FORT MYERS - After losing five All-Americans last year, Jesuit coach Bill Shaffer had realistic expectations for his boys swim team - win districts and compete at regionals.
Apparently, he forgot to tell his team that.
All 12 of his swimmers and divers scored points Thursday, including Andrew Werdine's victories in the 50-yard and 100-yard freestyles, to claim the 1A-Region 3 championship at Florida Gulf Coast University.
Jesuit's 309 points were enough to beat Tampa Prep, which finished second with 239.
Jesuit advanced at least one swimmer into the final of every event. Not only that, most swam better times in the evening than in morning preliminaries, delighting Shaffer, who was a bundle of nervous energy all evening.
"We had 10 guys qualify [for regional] and we had 10 guys reach the finals in both [their] events," Shaffer said. "They all scored points, and that's what I hoped for at the start of the season."
Werdine led the way, claiming three titles (he opened Jesuit's 400 free-relay victory). He set regional records in the 50 (21.60) and 100 (47.50) after finishing second in both events a year ago. He also got off to a better start in the 50 free, as he didn't slip as he did during district.
"Winning regionals certainly was a goal of mine this year," Werdine said.
Shaffer found little to quibble with, saying Werdine used an extra dolphin kick at the start and dipped his head at the finish, costing him a few hundredths of a second in the 50.
"I had a hard time finding anything wrong with that swim," Shaffer said.
Tampa Prep took the other two boys' relays, winning the 200 IM (1:41.90) and the 200 free (1:31.56). The latter was a school record, and Tampa Prep coach Richard Wertman switched up the order, moving third leg Matt Stumpf to anchor. Stumpf's split was .50 seconds better than his prelims split.
"Matt is so committed," Wertman said. "He said, 'I want to go last, I want that pressure,' and I said OK."
Tampa Prep junior Grace Fredlake defended her 200 IM title of a year ago, swimming a 2:09.38, her third-best time this year. She said she expects to go lower at state next week.
All champions received an automatic berth in the state meet in Orlando, which begins Thursday.
Academy of the Holy Names' 200 IM girls relay team will be there, as it claimed that race with a 1:53.73, a full two seconds lower than their prelim time.
"We all did our best splits this season," Holy Names senior and anchor leg Molly Sheridan said. "We really wanted to be regional champions and we were really well-prepared."
Berkeley Prep's Laura Jordan also advanced, swimming a 1:09.96 in the 100 breaststroke to win that title. Teammates Kyle Dent and Marni Tuchman swept the boys and girls diving events, respectively. Berkeley Prep's girls finished second with 266.50 points, behind Fort Myers Bishop Verot, which had 279.50.
Other area winners Thursday included Calvary Christian's Jose Crescimbeni, who swept the boys 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke; St. Petersburg Catholic's Kelsey Krauss, who won the 50 free and 100 fly; and Rachel Shea of Shorecrest Prep, who won the 100 backstroke.
