Local swimmers shine at district meet

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Local swimmers shine at district meet

Tommy Mann, Jr.

The Orange Leader

NEDERLAND — Swimmers from three local high schools faced off in the final regular meet of the season with hopes of advancing to the regional swim meet on the line.

The District 20-4A swim meet was held at Central Middle School in Nederland on Thursday with swimmers representing six teams competing against one another for the opportunity to advance to the Regional contest at Magnolia High School this Friday.

Leading the Little Cypress-Mauriceville High School Battlin' Bears swimmers was sophomore Cassey Brown, who claimed first place and gold medal in the Girls 500 Yard Freestyle with a time of 6:27.92

"I was a little anxious at the start of the race, but I settled down once I got in the water," Brown said. "I gained a little bit of time instead of cutting time, but not much. I'll just get ready like I do every week and prepare myself for the regional meet on Friday because they competition will be tough."

Swimmers in each race from first to sixth place qualify for the regional meet. Brown also qualified for regionals with a second place finish in the Girls 200 Yard Freestyle.

Other members of the LC-M swim team also qualified for regionals.

Alex Dorman, who appeared to be fighting off a head cold, placed second in the Boys 200 Yard Freestyle, and second in the Boys 500 Yard Freestyle, earning two silver medal in the process.

"I've been sick for nearly a week, but I'm getting better," Dorman said. "It really didn't affect me except for taking bigger breaths because I felt like my chest was tight. My 200 yard freestyle time wasn't as good as I had hoped, but I got the hang of it during the 500 yard freestyle. I guess I just had to work through it."

Chasity Chapman placed fifth in the Girls 50 Yard Freestyle and fifth in the Girls 100 Yard Freestyle, while team member Hannah McLendon will join her in Magnolia at the regional meet thanks to her fifth place finish in the Girls 100 Yard Breaststroke.

McLendon placed seventh in the Girls 100 Yard Backstroke, narrowly missing another qualifying spot at regionals, as did Dmitri LaCour who placed eighth in the Boys 100 Yard Breaststroke.

The West Orange-Stark Mustangs were well represented, if only by its sole team member, Will Cowart.

Cowart, a sophomore, earned two silver medals Thursday night. He finished second in the Boys 50 Yard Freestyle with a time of 24.94 seconds, and second in the Boys 100 Yard Breaststroke with a time of 1:14.18.

Although this is Cowart's first year representing his school, he is a regular participant with the City of Orange Swim Team (COST) each summer.

"I felt good about this meet," Cowart said. "As soon as I got in the water during warm-up session, I could tell. It felt good in the water (Thursday night), and I improved my times in both my races. Hopefully I can hit my times at regional and do well there."

Ashley Mann and Tim Brown led the Vidor High School Pirates as each swimmer earned a silver medal during Thursday's contest.

Mann claimed second in the Girls 100 Yard Freestyle with a time of 1:13.11. She will also advance to regionals based on her fifth place finish in the Girls 100 Yard Backstroke.

Mann, a junior at Vidor High School, is also in her third year as a Pirates swim team member.

"I felt good at the beginning of the night, but I just got really tired as the meet went on," Mann said. "I still managed to take three seconds off my backstroke, which was my last race of the night, so I'm happy about that."

Brown placed second in the Boys 100 Yard Backstroke with a time of 1:19.94. He also finished fifth in the Boys 100 Yard Freestyle.

Sophomore Jarrett Cameron used a pair of fourth place finishes in the Boys 200 Yard Freestyle and Boys 500 Yard Freestyle to qualify for regionals. His sister, Jessica, a freshman at Vidor High, will join him at Magnolia High School for Friday's regional meet thanks to her sixth place finish in the Girls 100 Yard Freestyle.

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[Gabe]

As his editor, let me personally thank Tommy Mann Jr. for covering these swim meets. These athletes do not get attention as they should. We are lucky at The Leader Tommy is able to make the meets and write up results for publication.

[mjones830]

Congrats to all