Sweeping the relays is the perfect place to start if you’re trying to win a team region title.
Throwing in a breakout outing by a freshman is another ideal step.
Add in strong performances from more familiar names and you’ve got more than enough firepower to wrap up a Region 5D championship like the Albemarle girls did Saturday.
The Patriots won the 200 medley, 200 free and 400 freestyle relays to headline a title run and hold off second place Patrick Henry. Then in the individual events, freshman Grey Davis had a breakout performance for the Patriots by winning both the 200 IM and the 100 butterfly. With Maddie Wells winning the 100 freestyle and Avery Huang winning the 100 breaststroke, Albemarle just needed its depth to deliver and it did repeatedly as the Patriots advanced 10 swimmers to the Class 5 state meet with top four finishes.
Cameron Smith was the runner-up in the 200 IM and 100 breaststroke while senior Claire Moody was the runner-up in the 200 free and 100 back. Huang added a third in the 100 fly while Rachel Murray took third in the 50 and 100 freestyle events. Sophia Yu took second in the 50 free while Audrey Kashatus took third in the 500 free, Melissa Alms was fourth in the 200 free and Lara Sikman took fourth in the 100 back.
With Walker Davis out of the lineup, Albemarle’s boys faced an uphill climb to a region title, but the Patriots nearly pulled it off, finishing second to Stafford 118-93. Albemarle advanced seven individual swimmers to the state meet.
The Patriots won the 400 freestyle relay and took second in the 200 medley and 200 free races. David King and Teddy Cross both added individual titles with King winning the 500 free and Cross winning the 100 backstroke.
King added a runner-up finish in the 200 free and Cross took third in the 200 IM. Lance Elmore finished third in the 50 free and 100 fly while Ryan Katstra took fourth in the 50 free and third in the 100 free. Howard Zhu took second in the 100 fly, Aidan Meyer was the runner-up in the 100 free and Zeke Brubaker took third in the 100 breaststroke.
The state swim meet for Class 5 is February 12 in Oakton.
