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MCSL roundup: Close meets, upsets and a tie highlight Week 1

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Week 1 of the Montgomery County Swim League did not disappoint, with upsets and close meets coming out of every division. There were a total of six meets decided by ten points or fewer, topped by a one-point, upset victory by Somerset in Division K. Three league records were broken — two by Tallyho swimmers and a third by senior Caroline McTaggart of Chevy Chase Rec.

Take a look back at some of the closest finishes and best upsets from the county’s opening weekend:

Daleview takes a big step forward with upset of King Farm
Daleview swimmers cheer in the water pre-meet. (Photo via Daleview web site)
Daleview swimmers cheer in the water pre-meet. (Photo via Daleview web site)

Daleview‘s 11-12 boys’ swept four events and took first place points in five to help lift the Feet to a 396.5-385.5 victory over top-seeded King Farm in a Division E opener.

Collin McKenzie, 11, won all four of his events for Daleview, leading sweeps in the 50-meter freestyle, 50 backstroke, 50 butterfly and 100 individual medley.

King Farm, one of two teams remaining in the division after finishing third in 2014, was unable to fill its lineup, leaving empty lanes in ten events. In the boys’ 200 medley relay, the Screamin’ Geese only had one relay entered and handed Daleview easy points — and the eventual win.

Daleview moved up two divisions after dominating Division G last season. In their highest division in since 2004, the Feet relied on depth to pull out a victory after only winning 20 of 50 events.

For King Farm, Joyce and Grace Wu shined in the backstroke events, both winning by four seconds. Joyce, age 10, won the 25 breast, finishing in 19.07 while sister Grace, 14, won the 50 breast in 37.78. Joyce’s time ranks her the top 9-10 breastroker in the league, .25 of a second clear of her next closest competitor.

Somerset hangs on late against Whetstone

After finishing in a tie in the divisional standings last year, Somerset and Whetstone resumed their series in Division K, with the Dolphins coming out on top of the top-seeded Whales, 381-380, in the closest victory of the week.

But the Whales kept it close late. Heading into the graduated relay, Somerset led by 17 points. Whetstone swept the top two places in the boys’ event, with the second place Whetstone relay finishing 27 seconds ahead of the third place Somerset relay — cutting the deficit to 12.

Needing a first-second finish to claim the win, the Whales’ “A” relay eased to the front and finished first by five and a half seconds. But it was Somerset that finished next, 18.5 seconds clear of the Whales’ “B” relay, securing the Dolphins the victory.

The result was a reversal of last season’s matchup when Whetstone pulled out a 15-point win.

Somerset leaned on their 11-12 and 13-14 girls for points throughout the meet. A Dolphin won every event in the age groups except for the 11-12 girls’ 50 breaststroke, where one of their top swimmers was disqualified. Jessica Khanna, 15, won every event she competed in for Somerset, finishing first by at least two seconds in each.

Whetstone’s boys had a strong meet in the loss and as a whole they won all but five boys’ events. The O’Donnell family, consisting of 8-year-old Erin, 12-year-old Tommy and 14-year-old Bobby swept 11 events for Whetstone.

Potomac Woods scores huge early-season victory

After starting the meet with a dominating performance in the boys and girls 12&under 100 individual medley, Wildwood Manor fell short to Potomac Woods397-392.

Both the boys’ and girls’ graduated relays were decided by less than a second, with Potomac Woods staving off Wildwood Manor in the boys’ event to help secure the victory. The Wombats won the girls, but the meet was decided by then.

The Demons entered this season as the expected Division B champion after winning all of their five dual meets, relay carnival and divisionals in C last summer. The Wombats won everything but the relay carnival in Division F last season and jumped up four divisions.

A pint-sized battle in the 9-10 age group between 10-year-olds Erin Gemmell of Potomac Woods and Nora Pottker of Wildwood Manor highlighted the close contest. Pottker out touched Gemmell in the 50 freestyle by .09. Gemmell and teammate Audrey Csokmay, also 10, swept the other events in the age group for Potomac Woods.

Aaron Lazar won the 13-14 boys’ 50 freestyle in 26.31 and ranks tied for first in the league. Lazar won all four of his events for Potomac Woods. Megan Sharkey and Caroline Howley made their debuts as 13-14s, placing first or second for the Demons in all of the events they competed in.

For Wildwood Manor, Jackson Van Wagener, 11, won all of his events while his brother Tyler, 15, won the 50 fly in commanding fashion, placing him eleventh in the league.

River Falls shows off depth against Hallowell

River Falls squeaked into Division D this year, despite finishing second last season in the division. They were expected to finish last this year, but they were able to defeat Division D newcomer Hallowell by 28 points, 408.5-380.5.

Using their depth, Riverfalls picked up second and third places throughout to overcome a top-heavy Hallowell team that won 32 events.

Elena Harrison, 10, dominated her events and ranks sixth in the 25 butterfly and tenth in the 50 freestyle and 25 backstroke in the league.

Drew Munson, 14, of Hallowell and Thatcher Smith, 14, of River Falls went back and forth throughout the meet. Munson won the 50 freestyle and 50 butterfly while Smith took first in the 50 backstroke, 50 breaststroke and 100 IM. For Hallowell, the duo of Kelly Kolanowski, 15, and Katie Athey, 15, finished first and second in all of their events.

New Mark Commons, Tanglewood tie

Trailing by four and needing a big finish in the final relays, Tanglewood boys’ secured a first and third finish after a DQ by New Mark Commons‘ “A” relay to give the Tigers life heading into the girls’ event. Tanglewood finished second-third, earning enough to force a tie in its season opener in Division O with the Barracudas, 384-384.

— Bryan Flaherty


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