For eight straight season, the Rockville Rays raised the division A trophy at the end of the season. From 2005 to 2012, the Rays won 39 dual meets, including 31 in a row.
They carried the hopes and expectations of that unprecedented run into the 2013 season. Unfortunately, for the Rays, they were knocked off their throne, their reign as the top team in the county ended in favor of a new champion, Upper County. Now, a season later, they are fighting to regain their kingdom and own a 2-0 record after the first two weeks of competition. With only one other undefeated team in the division, Stonegate, whom they will swim next week, this week is crucial to restore their dominance.
Bethesda owns a 0-2 record entering this week. They lost a close meet in Week 1 to Upper County, 394-396, and were then crushed by Stonegate the week following.
In their previous two meets, the Rays defeated their opponents by 32 and 74 points, respectively, including Upper County. They did so without some of their top national-level swimmers, who were at a RMSC travel meet.
Both teams boast some of the top 15-18 talent in the league and that should result in some of the best races in the age group this season.
Andrew Gibson (Rockville), Harrison Gu (Rockville) and Michael Sullivan (Bethesda) ranked one-two-three in the 100-meter freestyle. Right behind them is Karl Treichel (Rockville) and John Jeang (Rockville), ranked 10th and 13th, respectively, separating this field by just over two seconds.
On the girls side, it will be Bethesda who should have the advantage with Anna Kolanowski and Sarah Kannan posting strong times for them this season.
In the girls 9-10 50 free, it will be a battle for second with Kate Halmark (Bethesda) seeded six seconds ahead of the rest of the field. She will be the favorite in all of her events, not only here but at the Coaches Long Course Invite on July 8, as well. Her sister Caroline Hallmark (12) will be a crucial part of Bethesda’s 11-12 triple threat, where along with Amanda Liu and Leah Kannan, they will try to secure a one-two-three finish in their events.
Rockville’s response to Bethesda’s girls 11-12 attack will have to come from the boys side, and Alan Li, Nicholas Karayianis and Chris Ma have the capability to respond to their one-two-three finishes with a couple of their own. The same outcome is likely in the 13-14 events where Bethesda is seeded to sweep the girls side while Rockville is seeded to sweep the boys side.
Spoiler Alert
Stonegate has been flying under the radar so far this season in division A, but are in position to upset Rockville’s bid for the tie. Stonegate was the team that ended Rockville’s winning streak at 31 last season and if both Stonegate and Rockville win this weekend, Week 4 will be a battle of undefeateds with the winner most likely taking home the crown at the end of the season.
First, the Serpents will have to take down Woodcliffe, another 0-2 team that has more potential than what they have showed. Stonegate’s strength comes from their impressive array of swimmers who do not necessary have the ability to win an event, but can earn the crucial places right behind it and provide a couple points for their team. They boast five 11-12s ranked among the top in the county and 14-year-old Brady Ott, who is ranked first in free and fly. Woodcliffe one the other hand is lacking the depth that Stonegate relies on, but has a number of swimmers that can be win multiple events for them.
Clash of the undefeated
Division E is heating up. Northwest Branch and Kentland enter Week 3 with 2-0 records.
After Saturday, there will only be one.
The virtual meet simulator has this meet being decided by just seven points with Northwest Branch on top. The girls 14 and under 175 free relay seed times separate these two teams by a single one-hundred of a second. Caitlin Hofmann (9), Hannah Harnois (12), Olivia French (14) and Ainsley Taylor (7) from Kentland will square off against Lauren West (9), Alli Marney-Bell (11), Holly Greenleaf (13) and Eleanor Moose (8) from Northwest Branch in what could be the deciding event in the meet.