High school swimming: Gulf Coast girls, Cape Coral boys win titles at Shark Relays

After a hurricane-delayed start to the season, the Gulf Coast High School girls swimming team wound up with a championship when dipping into the deep end for the first time in 2019.

The Sharks won six events and won the Shark Relays at the Frank Norris Aquatics Center on Saturday to start the season on a high note after seeing a season-opening meet canceled due to Hurricane Dorian last week.

“This was an exciting event to have early in the season,” Gulf Coast coach Rachel Elliott said. “Everyone was up and cheering in all the events. Our attitude was definitely in the right place, so it was a super-positive event for us. This is a close-knit group and they support each other very well.”

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Elliott feels Saturday’s meet was the first of many challenges for the Sharks now that the team is up a class into Class 4A.

“Everything we do this season will set the tone for how far we go in the postseason, now that we are up a class,” Elliott said.

Naples finished second to the Sharks in the girls meet, totaling 422 points. Venice was third and Barron Collier was fourth.

Elliott’s 200-yard medley relay team of Olivia Owens, Danielle Boland, Rachel Moran and Brooke Boling set a meet record (1:51.31). Elliott was also pleased with the progress of freshmen such as Sasha Vynar and Corinn Bethea.

 “It’s fun to see the swimmers I’ve seen at the club level to come along,” Elliott said. “It’s great to see them at the high school, where things are more team-oriented and get involved in that.”

Naples won the 400 individual medley with the team of Sabyne Brisson, Tarrah Naghib, Havana Layton and Camille Sonalia. The Golden Eagles also triumphed in the 200 freestyle relay with Ava Graziano, Ella Perry, Lily Poorman and Christina Castillo.

Barron Collier won the diving event and the 250 crescendo, led by Rafaella Daniyar, Catie Laur, Madison Feehery and Emery Muller.

In the boys meet, Venice and Cape Coral finished in a tie for the team title. Barron Collier won six first-place ribbons, and was third. The Seahawks boys won the 100 backstroke for Cape Coral's lone event win.

“The best news of all for us was that the events we won, we won handily,” Barron Collier coach Matt Nelson said. “We wanted to make sure to get everyone into two relays today. We got a look at some great competition like Cape Coral and Venice, which was the state champion last year. We will see the both of them later on in dual meets.”

The Cougars won the 200 medley relay with the team of Anton Sunyak, Andrew Garner, Mason Laur and Jacob Connor. The team of Sunyak, Garner, Laur and William Eriksson won the 200 butterfly. And Garner, Connor, Laur and Stefan Savolle gave BC victory in the 250 crescendo.

Community School won the 200 freestyle with Charlie Krauss, Jake Becotte, Jamison McAdams and Matt Molloy.

Shark Relays

at Norris Pool

Team scores

Girls

Gulf Coast 484, Naples 422, Venice 412, Barron Collier 398, Cape Coral 384, Port Charlotte 358, Bishop Verot 344, Riverdale 284, North Fort Myers 204, Community School 186, South Fort Myers 160, Lely 144, Seacrest 120, Lehigh 54, Canterbury 54.

Boys

Venice 428, Cape Coral 428, Barron Collier 418, Gulf Coast 400, Bishop Verot 302, Riverdale 292, Port Charlotte 276, Seacrest 248, Community School 224, Naples 222, South Fort Myers 208, North Fort Myers 198, Canterbury 166, Lely 140, Lehigh 106.

Event winners

Girls

400 freestyle — 1. Venice, 3:42.79.

200 medley — 1. Gulf Coast, 1:51.31

500 crescendo — 1. Venice, 4:52.40.

200 butterfly — 1. Gulf Coast, 1:49.37.

400 individual medley — 1. Naples, 4:16.11.

200 backstroke — 1. Venice, 2:08.26.

200 freestyle — 1. Naples, 1:52.42.

200 breaststroke — 1. Gulf Coast, 2:10.85.

250 crescendo — 1. Barron Collier, 2:15.17.

100 backstroke — 1. Gulf Coast, 1:01.49.

100 butterfly — 1. Gulf Coast, 51.91.

100 freestyle — 1. Venice, 53.55.

100 breaststroke — 1. Gulf Coast, 1:05.78.

Diving — 1. Barron Collier, 122.20.

Boys

200 medley — 1. Barron Collier, 1:37.45

400 freestyle — 1. Barron Collier, 3:14.29

500 crescendo — 1. Venice, 4:18.40

200 butterfly — 1. Barron Collier, 1:37.49

400 individual medley — 1. Gulf Coast, 4:01.19

200 backstroke — 1. Venice, 1:40.85

200 freestyle — 1. Community School, 1:35.58

200 breaststroke — 1. Venice, 2:00.5

250 crescendo — 1. Barron Collier, 1:58.38

100 butterfly — 1. Barron Collier, 50.91

100 backstroke — 1. Cape Coral, 54.78

100 freestyle — 1. Venice, 46.20

100 breaststroke — 1. Venice, 56.33

Diving — 1. Barron Collier, 148.42