News
Bolles Swimming and Diving Sweeps State
The following article ran in the November 2 issue of the Florida Time-Union
Bolles Sweeps Swim Titles
Girls fend off Pine Crest with two individual victories; boys dominate.
By RON WHITE, Times-Union correspondent
ORLANDO - For most, it was a forgone conclusion, but Bolles celebrated just the same Thursday after the school's two teams again swept the titles at the Class A state swimming and diving championships.
But that didn't matter to Bolles coach Sergio Lopez, who gathered his team together and called for their best after noticing Fort Lauderdale Pine Crest creeping up in the early scoring on the girls' side.
Bolles responded in a big way. Victoria Richmond won the 200-yard individual medley with a time of 2:02.3 and took second place in the 100 breaststroke, where Bolles had a quartet finish in the top five to rack up the points.
Aubrey Peacock also took home an individual state title, winning the 100 backstroke in 55.11.
That was enough to help the girls win their 17th consecutive state title.
The Bulldogs scored 426.5 points. Pine Crest finished second with 319 points.
“We were confident, but it was nice to have Pine Crest pushing us to do our best,” said Arianna Vanderpool-Wallace of Bolles, who placed second in the 100 butterfly, finished third in the 200 freestyle and helped the 400 free relay team take first place.
The Bolles boys, meanwhile, claimed their 20th consecutive state title and the 30th in the school's history.
Nobody was happier than Branden Whitehurst, who hadn't participated in a high school swim meet until a year ago.
“I'm a senior, so this was my last meet. I just let it all go today,” said Whitehurst, who moved to Jacksonville from the Virgin Islands prior to his junior year.
Whitehurst won the 200 IM (1:50.82) and was third in the 100 free (46.16).
“I'm just glad to be a part of a great team like Bolles,” said Whitehurst, who plans to begin training for national competitions later this month. “This school, my teammates and my coaches have really helped my swimming a lot.”
The boys' team finished with 338 points. Pine Crest was second with 151.
Helping the Bulldogs' cause was Rodion Davelaar, who was second in the 50 free, just nine-tenths of a second off first place. Davelaar was also fourth in the 100 free and joined Whitehurst and two others on the Bulldogs' winning 200 freestyle relay team. Jowan Qupty won the 100 breakstroke.