
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, August 12, 1993                   TAG: 9308120391
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: S-10   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

4 GATOR SWIMMERS TO COMPETE IN EASTERN ZONE CHAMPIONSHIPS

Four members of the Roanoke Valley Gator Swim Team are participating in the Eastern Zone Championships this weekend in Fairfax.

Emily Whichard, Brett Fonder and Laura Webb are swimming on the team representing Virginia, and Brittany Semones, qualified to compete as an individual.

To make the team, a swimmer must have a first- or second-place finish at Junior Olympics, the state championship, or hold one of the top two times in the state in a particular event.

Whichard, daughter of Susan and Ted Whichard of Roanoke, qualified with first-place finishes in the 400, 200 and 100 freestyle events at the state. She obtained national top 16 times in the 200 and the 100 freestyle. (A top 16 time means a swimmer has achieved a time equal to or better than the top 16 swimmers in the United States in that event and age group.) She also will compete in the 50 and 100 backstroke and the 50 freestyle.

Whichard, 12, has been swimming for seven years. In April, she competed in YMCA Nationals in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Fonder, son of Doug and Ann Fonder of Roanoke, has been has been swimming for five years. At Junior Olympics, Fonder, 10, placed first in the 200 freestyle and second in the 50 freestyle. At Zones, he'll compete in the 50, 100 and 200 freestyle, 200 individual medley and 50 backstroke. He has a top 16 time in the 100 freestyle.

Webb, daughter of Dwaine and Dawn Webb, also qualified to swim on the Virginia Long Course Team. At Junior Olympics, Webb, 10, finished first and achieved top 16 times in the 200 individual medley, 50 backstroke, 100 back, 50 breaststroke and 100 breast. She is competing in those events and the 100 butterfly at the zones. She has been swimming for four years and in April competed in the short course Zones as a Virginia Team member.

Brittany Semones, daughter of Sabrina Semones of Roanoke and Tim Semones of Baltimore, Md., achieved a time to participate at the meet, but not on the team. She will swim as an individual in the 100 Butterfly. Semones, 9, has been swimming for four years.

by CNB