Pine Crest swimming and diving traveled down to the Keys on Saturday morning (October 15) to take Coral Shores High School and came away with another victory for girls and boys pushing the team dual meet record to 5-0 for both girls and boys.  The final score girls Pine Crest 167-49; boys Pine Crest 171-59.

In what is turning out to be one of the more weather related season's in years, the Panthers have had great diffculty in getting in the normal number of dual meets for this time of year and so many traininig sessions have been called off due to weather that the upcoming playoffs for the State Championship meet will prove to be very interesting for Pine Crest.

The dual meet with Coral Shores was added to our schedule late this season after we had to cancel the dual meet with American Heritage due to the reschedule of the Woodson Invitational.   We were pleased that Coral Shores hosted PC in a dual meet and after the dual meet the Panthers were to spend some time at John Pennycamp State Park to relax and do some team bonding.  Well as what we say to all our visitors who come to South Florida for the weather, " you should have been here yesterday".  For just as the teams finished their pre meet warm up and the first race was called to the blocks the lighting alert went off and everyone had to take cover while we waited for the storm to pass.  So after an hour delay the meet started but then we had to take another break toward the end of the meet again due to lighting alert, but the team maintained good spirit and eventually we got the meet done.  Thanks to all the parents who made the drive down to the keys, and sorry that the weather did not cooperate.

Looking ahead to the State playoffs that start at the end of the month, we placed the swimmers in a number of different events to see where our strengths and weakness might be as we prepare the State line up.  The athletes did a great job racing in events that are not usually the event that they swim at a major meet.

The Lady Panthers won every event in the meet, all the relays and diving.  PC won the 200 Medley Relay, Miriyham Ghali won the 200 free with Sabrina Gornisiewicz, Hailey Kelly, taking 2,3.  It was a sweep in the 200 IM withTyla Martin, Kaelah Chaney, Anastasia Hediger.  In the 50 free, Hannah Veale and Brittany Hammond went 1-2.  Carolyn Chaney won the diving with Carly Ehrlich taking 3rd.  The 100 fly saw Lindsey Swartz and Kaelah Chaney go 1-2.  Then it was another sweep in the 100 free with Casey Francis, Sabrina Gornisiewicz, Rebecca Sadler, while Tyla Martin won the 500 free.  The Lady Panthers won the 200 free relay, then Casey Francis and Miriyam Ghali teamed up to go 1-2 in the 100 back.  It was another 1-2 in the 100 breast with Lindsey Swartz and Brittany Hammond.  Pine Crest closed out the meet with a win then 400 free relay.

The boys won most of the events, with Coral Shores getting the win in the 50 free, diving, and the 200 and 400 free relays.  The Panthers split up the free relays as even as we could among the A-B-C relays giving swimmers a chance to be on relay teams that they usually do not get to do.  While it cost Pine Crest the win in the 200 and 400 free relay, it really showed the coaches some great racing as all three relays felt they had a shot to win.  In the 400 free relay, the B-C relay tied for 3rd place.

Pine Crest won the 200 Medley Relay to open the meet, then Austin Evenson and Niklas Friederici went 1-2 in the 200 free.  Adam Dear won the 200 IM with Gotti Eisenberger placing 3rd. Coral Shores won the 50 free with Marcel Betschart, Kent Haeffner, placing 2nd-3rd.  Coral Shores won the boys diving.  Adam Dear won the 100 fly, with Austin Evenson placing 3rd.  In the 100 free Niklas Friederici won with Kent Haeffner placing 3rd.  Pine Crest distance (always a strong part of team) went 1-2-3-4 in the 500 free with Gotti Eisenberger, Alex Evenson, Rak Hovart, Anton Gueneralov.  Coral Shores won the 200 free relay. Then in the 100 back it was Marcel Betschart, Jack Cawley, Anton Gueneralov, Rak Hovart going 1-4, the 100 breast was another sweep with Michal Rokita, Thomas Doolittle, Sam Korntner, Ed Walker.  Coral Shores won the 400 free relay.

Pine Crest will host 2A Boys State Champion, Belen Jesuit and Our Lady of Lourdes, along with University School this coming Wednesday, Oct. 19, at the Woodson pool starting at 4:30pm.  Come out and cheer on the Panthers!

It is Great to be a Pine Crest Panther!


Jay Fitzgerald
Pine Crest School
Pine Crest Swimming
Aquatic Director/Head Coach
954 492 4173
954 492 4169 fax