Region championships are in large part about positioning yourself best for the state meet especially when you’re defending a state title like the Monticello girls are, but grabbing some hardware along the way is always a plus.
Monticello’s girls squad and Fluvanna County’s boys squad took home the big trophies from Brooks YMCA Wednesday, winning the Region 3C championships for a Jefferson District sweep.
The landscape of Region 3C swimming changed dramatically with Western Albemarle’s move up to Class 4 after Western swept the region titles a year ago, and the Warriors’ Jefferson District compatriots took advantage in a big way with the Mustangs girls and Flucos’ boys notching championships.
The Fluvanna boys got it done with depth as they managed a region title without any individual event winners. Instead, the Flucos won a pair of relays, taking the 200 medley relay and the 200 free relay and took fifth in the 400 free relay. Ahamad Woodson took second in the 200 free and third in the 100 free while Gus Jones took second in the 100 butterfly and fourth in the 100 breaststroke. Anthony Caruso took second in the 200 IM, Jacob Ondek took third in the 50 free and Jackson Kinsella took fourth in the 100 backstroke.
The Monticello girls, who are definitely positioning themselves well for a run at a potential back-to-back state title next week, put together their title run with another impressive performance by Izzy Bradley who won the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke. Elisabeth Bendall also picked up an individual title in the 200 IM. The Mustangs also swept the relays with wins in the 200 medley, 200 freestyle and 400 freestyle events. They also got a pair of runner-up finishes from Allisan Bendall (500 freestyle) and Marian Mithqal (100 backstroke). Eloise Weary tossed in fourth place finishes in the 50 and 100 freestyle races.
The Monticello boys took sixth as a team, taking third in the 200 medley relay and fourth in the 200 freestyle relay. Graham Dugas took third in the 200 IM and Valentin Dowd grabbed fourth in the same race.
Alexandra Fuller from Fluvanna won the 100 freestyle and the Flucos took third in the 200 medley relay.
The Charlottesville boys took second in the 400 free relay and William Keenan took second in the 50 free as well as fourth in the 100 free.
Each of those teams now turn their attention to the Class 3 State Championships February 19 at SwimRVA.
