Sixteen Decatur swimmers to compete in regional meet Sat.
(Feb. 15, 2013) The Stephen Decatur swim teams wrapped up regular-season competition Tuesday at the Pocomoke YMCA with wins over the Kent County Trojans.
The Lady Seahawks had a first-place finisher in all 11 events. Decatur outscored Kent County 129-20.
Taking top honors in their individual events were senior captain Cailey O’Brien (500-yard freestyle, 7:15.15; 200 IM, 2:59.17), junior Chloe Maykrantz (100 backstroke, 1:21.97), sophomores Katie Bear (100 freestyle, 1:06.01; 200 freestyle, 2:28.87), Molly Wooten (100 butterfly, 1:14.48) and Doria McCloskey (100 breaststroke, 1:27.59; 50 freestyle, 29.69 seconds).
Senior captain Julia Wellen, sophomores Carly Deickman and Madison Tinus and freshman Hailey Williams earned a victory in the 200-yard medley relay race (2:12.23).
Sophomore Maria Zweifel joined Wellen, Deickman and Tinus for the 200-yard freestyle event, which the girls won in 1:56.45.
Williams, Wooten, Zweifel and Marley Rakow out-swam their competition in the 400-yard freestyle relay race (4:32.57).
“I thought we swam really well. The meet was for the girls who aren’t going to regionals this weekend,” said Coach Jenny Miller. “A lot of girls had a chance to come out and shine.”
The boys’ team won 108-49.
Earning victories in their individual meets were senior captain Shayne Custodio (200 freestyle, 2:12.75), juniors Jake Middleton (500 freestyle, 5:33.20; 100 breaststroke, 1:17.20) and Tate Socha (100 butterfly, 1:12.08) and sophomores Chris Poole (50 freestyle, 25.48 seconds) and Dalton Warren (100 freestyle, 1:03.21).
Senior captain Jeff Middleton, his brother, Jake, Custodio and Poole finished first in the 200-yard medley relay race (1:55.64).
Poole, Custodio, junior Cory Campbell and senior captain Zack Keiser won the 200-yard freestyle relay (1:47.01).
Keiser, Custodio, senior Justin Hommel and Jeff Middleton won the 400-yard freestyle relay event (4:02.33).
“For this swim meet we focused on the swimmers that are not attending regionals. We had tons of great swims and it was an awesome way to close out the season,” said Coach Damien Sanzotti.
Decatur will send 16 swimmers (eight girls, eight boys) to Saturday’s 3A/2A/1A East Regional meet at the Arundel Swim Center.
The Lady Seahawks finished in second place at regionals last year. Miller is confident her team will be a top contender for the title this year.
“I think we have a really good chance to win. We beat all the Maryland teams we swam against this year, so based on [that], it looks pretty good,” she said. “I’m hoping at least everybody will be able to qualify [for states] in at least one individual event and for the relay teams to qualify, too.”
The Decatur boys’ team captured its second consecutive team title in 2012. The Seahawks are going for No. 3 this Saturday.
“The boys have a good chance to win regionals, but it will be close with Cambridge and Queen Anne’s. As long as the boys swim to the best of their ability I am confident we can come away with a ‘W’ at regionals,” Sanzotti said.
