THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 8, 1995 TAG: 9512070150
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, BEACON SPORTS EDITOR
LENGTH: Long : 123 lines
ALTHOUGH STILL IN ITS INFANCY, Beach District swimming already appears to have its haves and have-nots.
Area private swimming clubs that compete under the U.S. Swimming banner are the reason why.
Many of these swimmers are tops in the country in their respective age groups.
These talented athletes will no doubt help jump-start a swimming program that saw its first varsity meets held last Friday.
The Beach's 10 high schools competed as club teams last year in an effort to adjust to the new program and to limited facilities for competition.
Only the second meetings between teams will count in district standings. Meets begin at 4 p.m. at city recreation centers.
So who are the teams to beat in this new sport at the Beach?
Let's take a look:
As far as the boys are concerned, Kempsville is the team to beat.
The Chiefs are loaded with club-teamers, and two of them combined to establish seven city high school records in the eight individual events in last year's club-team season.
Senior Kevin Sinsabaugh holds five of those records. His specialties are in the freestyle, individual medley and butterfly events. Bryan Brady is a sophomore who holds two of those records, and his favorite events are the 50 free and 100 backstroke.
Jay Sheets and Chad and Dean Rafferty are the other returnees, but Kempsville has added nine other swimmers for its first varsity season to give the team strength and depth. John McLaren and Mark Guisto are two of the top young freestylers in the country.
Cox and Salem also appear to have strong boys teams.
The Falcons should be led by returnees Conrad Mapp, Ryan Quinn, Matt Morriset and Mike Delfaus.
Leading the way for the Sun Devils will be returnees Ryan O'Meara, Jeff Lewis, Mark Messersmith and Josh Johnson. O'Meara won the 100 free and 100 fly in last year's citywide club meet, while Lewis captured the 200 free and breast events.
Sean O'Meara is another ODAC swimmer for Salem, which will also enjoy the efforts of Matt Cornelison, Shawn Jeffries, Andrew Cossaboon, Christopher Gilman and Luke Raymor.
Tallwood has a pair of good distance swimmers in Ben Heisler and James Post, but possibly the best overall swimmer for the Lions will be newcomer Paul Strait. Ryan Callich and Eric Whilden are returners from last year.
First Colonial's top swimmer likely will be Scott Payne, although Danny Mazure and Stephan Laboretta are strong. Football placekicker and soccer standout Jesse Harris is also a Patriots swimmer.
Ocean Lakes senior Adam Chissler could contend for district championships in the 100 back and free events, while Joe Ward is the Dolphins only other returner.
Green Run is led by Duane Prasuhn, the city record-holder in the 100 breast. John Nash was fourth in the 100 individual medley and fifth in the 100 back at the citywide meet.
Bayside newcomer Mike Walsh is probably the top swimmer for Bayside, while John Roop, John Smith, Stephen Ford and Trevor Pantone are the newcomers.
Joe Holland and Nick Arnett are the returnees for Kellam. No information on Princess Anne was provided.
The girls' race likely will be more competitive than the boys - with First Colonial, Cox, Salem and Kempsville being the favorites.
Leading the way for the Patriots will be Lindsay Widener, Megan Robertson, Leslie Kearley, Elana Horvath, Kristin Eitel, Beth Willie and Elise Weinberg. Robertson won a citywide backstroke event last year.
The Falcons enjoy the luxury of having arguably the best female swimmer in the city in Marcey Laderberg, a freshman who swims for ODAC and is ranked nationally in several events. Leigh Starling, Becca Rose, Karen Lamoureux, Tamsen Heckel and Lauren Bulkeley provide backup.
Salem will enjoy tremendous depth and includes eight club-team swimmers and one former club member. Julie Lestyan established the city record in the 50 free last year. Kristin Thorn set the mark in the 100 fly.
Other Sun Devils returnees are Jenny Doll, Monica Hollowell, Heidi Lestyan, Amanda Yesensky, Toni Masters, Jamie Marsteller and Karen Cantamessa. Newcomers Tara Lewis, Shannon Turlip and Ashley Theiser all compete with private clubs and will quickly make names for themselves at this level.
Kempsville returns nine swimmers led by Stephanie Jenkins, Allison LaLonde, Carrie Williams, Catherine Parker, Erica Bergelt, Lara Crockin, Meghann Gilo, Leslie Gregory and Mandy Tate.
Tallwood's best swimmer is newcomer Cathie Smith who can compete in all events. She joins returnees Abbey Graf, Allison Howerton, Kelly Mahoney, Krystal Norman, Tiffany Richards and Jan Wilson.
Erin Vitz and Michelle Poindester return to lead Princess Anne.
Green Run's Brenda Jones set the city record in the 100 free and 100 breast last year, while Samantha Olive was second in the 50 free. Stacey Atkinson, Kim Kirkey, Daria Scott and Julianne Ulrich can compete in any event.
Bayside will be led by returnees Charlene Taylor, Melissa Brown, Megan Conniff, Jennifer Clark, Lori Riggs and Amy Young.
Ocean Lakes returnees are Teresa Denton, Anne Hurst and Catherine Miller, while a host of freshmen and sophomores will round out the squad.
Kellam returnees are Amanada Eble, Ann Schaech, Kristin Green, Heather Thompson and Elizabeth Shrieves. ILLUSTRATION: [Cover, Color photo]
MAKING A SPLASH
ON THE COVER
JoAnn Brooks of Ocean Lakes competes in the 200-meter individual
medley
Staff photos by D. KEVIN ELLIOTT
Kempsville, Cox and Ocean Lakes competed in the inaugural Beach
District swim meet at the Kempsville Rec Center.
Aubrey Thomas, 16, of Tallwood cheers on a teammate during the
inaugural tri-meet.
Staff photos, including color cover, by D. KEVIN ELLIOTT
Kim Laque, left, of Tallwood dives in at the start of the 200-meter
individual medley in the inaugural tri-meet at Kempsville Rec
Center.
As a teammate touches the side, Lauren Bulkeley, 14, a freshman at
Cox High, dives in to swim the third leg of the 200-meter medley
relay.
by CNB