Marshall Swimmers, Divers Find Some Successes
Behind a solid all-around effort from the entire team, the George Mason High School varsity boys swimming team was able to keep their undefeated record in the Bull Run District intact, as they downed Strasburg and Clarke last Wednesday, 79-11 and 61-33, respectively.
The Mustangs had four individual winners, in addition to taking first in all three relays on the night to best the only other two swim teams in the district.
A pair of freshmen in Sam Butler and Will Doty led the squad, taking first in the 50-yard freestyle and the 100-yard butterfly respectively. Doty finished his event nearly six seconds ahead of the next competitor, and also finished second in the 100-yard backstroke.
Junior Carlos Clark continued his success in the 500 freestyle, besting the nearest swimmer by 22 seconds. Clark also finished second in the 200-yard freestyle to Clarke County standout Jacob McCorkle.
Senior Jeff Williams rounded out the individual winners for the Mustangs, finishing first in the 100-yard freestyle. He was also the lead swimmer of the winning 200-yard medley relay team, comprised of Williams, Doty, sophomore Sam Parker and senior Andrew Breen.
Breen, Butler, Williams and senior Colin Lauer also took first in the 200-yard freestyle relay, while Lauer, Clark, Doty, and Williams teamed up to dominate the 400-yard freestyle relay event.
While the boys had a fairly easy time dispatching the Eagles and the Rams, the Lady Mustangs did not fare nearly as well, falling to both Clarke and Strasburg.
Shorthanded due to sickness, Mason succumbed to the deeper squads of their district counterparts. However, strong meets by sophomores Kelley Frank and Karen Hamill kept their squad close right until the end, as they lost to Strasburg by only 10 points and to Clarke by 15.
Frank placed first in the 100-yard butterfly, dominating the entire event by 17 seconds, as well as narrowly beating Strasburg’s Lindsey Muller in the 100-yard breaststroke by .04 seconds. Frank also competed in the winning 200-yard medley relay team, teaming with Hamill, senior Krisie Southern and freshman Rachel Hassan.
Hamill finished first in the 100-yard backstroke, as well as placing second in the 200-yard individual medley. She was the anchor in the second place 200-yard freestyle relay team, comprised of Southern, sophomore Maddy McAllister and Hassan. Southern also placed second in the 50-yard freestyle, falling by .6 seconds.
The 400-yard freestyle relay team of Southern, McAllister, Hassan and Frank rounded out the ladies’ off day, finishing second.
The team has finished their Bull Run District season, and now looks ahead to the Region B meet at Strasburg High this Saturday at 9:30 a.m. Just two weeks later, the numerous state qualifying Mustang swimmers will hit the pool for the state meet at George Mason University.
Marshall High School Swim Update
Last Friday, the George C. Marshall High School swim and dive team played host to South Lakes High School on the Statesmens' senior night. Although both teams lost to the Seahawks, some great swims and dives from numerous Statesmen were scattered throughout the night.
Marshall kicked off the night on the right foot, sweeping the dive competition in the first event. Cassie Self took first place, with Lauren Parkhurst close behind in second and Kelly Crider taking third.
Leah Noordhuizen was the only other individual winner for Marshall against South Lakes. She placed first in both the 500-yard freestyle and the 100-yard breaststroke.
Second place finishes for the Statesmen included Andy Riley in the 500-yard freestyle, Jarom Aulestia in the 100-yard butterfly, Daniel Bui in the 100-yard breaststroke, and the men’s 200-yard freestyle relay team of Gavin Campbell, Bui, Aulestia and Scott Witt.
Rounding out the night, the men’s 200-yard medley relay team of Campbell, Bui, Aulestia and Witt placed third. Hynwoo Koo, Lexie Jones and Lauren Hahm placed third in the 200-yard boys and girls individual medley and the 50-yard freestyle, respectively.
This Friday, Marshall enters the postseason with the Liberty district swim meet. The Northern Region meet takes place just four days later on January 29.
