THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, February 21, 1996 TAG: 9602210567
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY LEE TOLLIVER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 60 lines
The inaugural Eastern Region swimming championships came down to a matter of depth - in the teams, not the pool at the Princess Anne Recreation Center.
Kempsville captured the boys title with an exciting victory in the final race of the evening, while Lafayette left every other team in its wake in taking the girls title.
Heading into the boys 400-meter freestyle relay race, the last event, Kempsville found itself two points behind Cox for the team lead.
With Denbigh swimming in between the two Beach rivals, the race went down to the wire before the Chiefs foursome of John McLaren, Kevin Sinsabaugh, Brendan Cartin and Mark Giusto edged the Falcons 3:46.24-3:46.90 for a 181-177 victory.
``Tremendous depth (got us the chance),'' Kempsville coach Ernie Rille said after taking an impromptu dip in the pool. ``And we put them away in the last race. And it was a great race.''
In the girls competition, the Peninsula District overwhelmed the Beach, taking the first three team places. Eastern District champion Maury could manage only an eighth-place finish.
But not even Lafayette's powerful Peninsula rivals could stay in the pool with the Rams, who finished with a 308-182 margin of victory over Menchville. Cox was the top Beach team, taking fourth with 155 points.
``We won this thing this morning by placing 16 swimmers in the 48 individual championship spots,'' Lafayette coach Harold Baker said. ``And then we won all three relay events. That was great.
``This whole meet was a lot of fun for everybody and our kids knew a ton of the competition from U.S. Swimming meets. But our depth was too much for them.''
Lafayette took five individual titles - with Lee Walker winning in the 100 and 50 freestyle before swimming legs on the 200 medley and 200 free relay teams. Xandy Frisch won in the 200 free, while teammate Martha Gates won in the 200 individual medley and 100 breaststroke.
Tabb's Nancy Simpson won in the 100 butterfly and 100 back, while Emily Johnston of Ferguson took the only other individual title with a win in the 500 free.
Despite winning the 400 free relay and the boys' team title, Kempsville had no individual champions.
Cox won three titles, with Matt Morrisette taking the 50 free and 100 fly, and teammate John Herske winning the 500 free. The team of Ryan Quinn, Conrad Mapp, Morrisette and Mike Delfaus also captured the 200 medley relay for the Falcons.
Brett Cline of Ferguson was another double winner, taking titles in the 200 and 100 free, as was Denbigh's Chris Mousetis wins in the 200 individual medley and 100 backstroke. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
LAWRENCE JACKSON/The Virginian-Pilot
Meredith Fagan of Menchville swims the 100 breaststroke, but the
event was one of eight won by girls Eastern Region champ Lafayette.
by CNB