With the long awaited first meet of the Montgomery County Swim League just days away, teams across the county are putting in final preparations and anxiously awaiting their new competition.
Division A: The Serpents’ hold
The league’s premier division was the only group that remains unchanged from last season, with no new teams entering. Last season, Stonegate claimed the division’s coveted crown, sweeping all five dual meets and placing first in both the relay carnival and divisonals. Rockville, who started the season 2-0 but stumbled in Week 3 vs. Bethesda and Week 4 at Stonegate, rebounded in the final week to finish second overall.
Rockville, which started the season 2-0 but stumbled in Week 3 vs. Bethesda and Week 4 at Stonegate, rebounded in the final week to finish second overall; Stonegate beat Rockville by 18 points. The burgeoning rivals enter this season ranked first and second, separated by a single predicted win; Stonegate is forecasted to repeat as champion.
If they are to do so, the Serpents will need support from their 15-18s, notably 15-year-olds Brady Ott and Miles Brown. On the other end, their 9-10 girls are almost unstoppable. Last season, they sweep the top five scoring places in two meets and finished in second through sixth place in the three meets they didn’t. With only one of their top 9-10 girls aging up, it will continue to be a key age group for Stonegate to earn valuable points.
The spoiler this season could come from Woodcliffe, which proved last season that it can compete at the top level when the stakes are highest. Last season the Wahoos entered Division A as the newcomer and were ranked sixth in the preseason rankings. Despite winning only one dual meet, they had exceptional finishes at both the relay carnival and divisionals and placed third overall in the division.
Swimmers to watch:
- Tia Thomas, Stonegate
- Tim Ellett, Tilden Woods
- John Clado, Rockville
- Cassandra Sanidad, Stonegate
- Emily Wang, Upper County
Division B: On the upswing
Germantown and Tallyho finished first and second respectively last season in Division B but were deemed not-ready by the league’s computers. Each of the other four teams — including Wildwood Manor, which jumped from Division F — moved up from lower divisions and are faced with the daunting challenge of facing two veterans of the league’s upper tier.
Wildwood Manor and Potomac Woods were the only two teams in the MCSL to score over 1,000 points at their respective divisionals last season, and Potomac Woods’ dominance of Division C should continue into this season as the Demons take Division B. Potomac Woods qualified 11 of its 22 relays for the all-star meet, five more than any other team in Division B this season.
Tallyho, which finished 4-1 in the division last year and sent six relays to all-stars, boasts star power in Phoebe Bacon and Brett Feyerick. They should dominate the 11-12s after they each finished first in an event at all-stars as 11-year-olds.
Swimmers to watch:
- Phoebe Bacon, Tallyho
- Isabelle Clark, Potomac Woods
- Brett Feyerick, Tallyho
- Aaron Lazar, Potomac Woods
- Riley Powell, Mill Creek Towne
Division C: New look “C”
With six new teams making up the division, C is among the most unpredictable in the league. Woodley Gardens, Manchester Farms, Cedarbrook and Darnestown all moved down from Division B together after finishing third, fourth, fifth and sixth respectively a season ago. Joining them is last year’s Division E champion Northwest Branch and last year’s F runner-up Regency Estates.
In the preseason rankings, Cedarbrook and Darnestown are tied for first place. Last year when these two teams raced each other, Darnestown came out on top by three points. But with a strong crop of senior athletes — led by Sydney Kirsch, Grace Goetcheus, Katie Smith, Margaret Wolfson and Andrew Omenitsch — it is Cedarbrook which may have the edge this season.
Seeded last, Manchester Farms is capable of fielding point-getters like few outside of Division A. Fifteen-year-old Eli Fouts broke three league records last season as a 14-year-old and is joined by Audrey Tirrell, Sydney Knapp, Lindsay Knapp, Grace Elliott and Dylan Gribble, who are coming off successful club and high school seasons as well. Last season, the relay of Sydney and Lindsay Knapp, Elliott and Gribble placed second at all-star relays.
Swimmers to watch:
- Nathan Wratney, Cedarbrook
- Kylie Austin-Vaias, Cedarbrook
- Sydney Knapp, Manchester Farms
- Jaycee Yegher, Darnestown
- Audrey Tirrell, Manchester Farms
Division D: Forever young
With young teams for some and young age groups for others Division D is all about the future.
Country Glen is favored to win it’s second Division D title in a row, led by a group of younger swimmers that should carry the Sun Devils in the years to come. The team of Livia Venditti, Sacha Feldburg, Jordyn Wagman and Francesca Venditti won the 14&under 100 medley relay at all-stars last season, and each is expected to make an impact this season.
Connecticut Belair has top-of-the-league talent that will provide easy points for the team that moved down from Division C. The Gators’ 15-18 age group features a strong class of 15-17-year-olds that can lead this team in the pool for a few more years, featuring Alaniz Griffin and Jack Cosgrove.
Stonebridge, which finished second in Division E last year, may surprise after moving up. The Sharks, like the Sun Devils, found most of their success among younger swimmers in 2014. After six team records fell last season, Stonebridge looks to continue its climb.
Swimmers to watch:
- Griffin Alaniz, Connecticut Belair
- Katie Athey, Hallowell
- Maureen Cosgrove, Connecticut Belair
- Makenzie Higgins, Stonebridge
- Eamon Smith, Connecticut Belair
Division E: Oh, the possibilities
Potomac Glen tied for second in Division D, yet slid down along with Westleigh, which finished last in the division. Daleview dominated Division G to jump two divisions to its highest divisional placement since 2004.
Last year, King Farm handled second-seeded Kentlands, 426-366, in their meeting. Both teams return to the division, and the Screamin’ Geese look to fulfill their top-seeded projection this year. Alexander Chung makes a difficult leap into the 15-18 group, but Chung and the rest of King Farm’s top age-up swimmers should adjust well to in their new age group.
Beyond the team race, the division brings together several rematches from the 2014 all-star meet, highlighted by a trio of 11-year-olds — Giulia Baroldi of Potomac Glen, Sophia Hovis of Daleview and Ella Myers of King Farm — who all finished in the top five of the girls 9-10 50 freestyle last season.
The division’s top swimmer, Carsten Vissering, the league record holder of the boys 15-18 100 breaststroke, may be limited in his appearances for Potomac Glen (if he swims at all) with obligations to the U.S. national team and his future collegiate program impending. The Southern California heads to South Korea in July for the World University Games and then likely straight out west to Los Angeles after. Even so, Old Georgetown has plenty of firepower throughout the team without its most decorated soon-to-be alumnus.
Potomac Glen could make some noise in Division E. Its third-place girls open 200 medley relay returns three of its four members and there are talented swimmers spread throughout the team’s age groups, leaving few weaknesses in the Gators’ lineup.
Swimmers to watch:
- Giulia Baroldi, Potomac Glen
- James Collishaw, Old Georgetown
- Olivia French, Kentlands
- Matthew Nguyen, King Farm
- Carsten Vissering, Old Georgetown
Division F: Flower-power vs. the Ladybugs
A year after Wildwood Manor and Regency Estates controlled Division F, Flower Valley is the only team remaining in the division from last summer. But it’s Garrett Park, which finished second in Division G last summer, that hopes to be the barrier between the Frogs and a division title.
Garrett Park has depth in most age-groups, allowing the Ladybugs to consistently pick up points across a meet. Led by Holly Heaton, Allison Hilligoss and Gabrielle Reilly, their 11-12s are among the best in the division.
Zachary Youth, 14, who finished fourth in the 50 breast at all-stars last summer, and seniors Kevin Berry and Samantha Holden should also be contributors for Garrett Park.
Seeded fifth, Damascus has one of the best up-and-coming talents in the league in 10-year-old Carly Sebring. Last summer, she placed third in the 25 breast and sixth in the 25 fly at all-stars; she was the top finishing nine-year-old in both. At the PVS Junior Olympic Championships in March, Sebring was high-point runner-up among 10&unders.
Swimmers to watch:
- Carly Sebring, Damascus
- Zach Youth, Garrett Park
-
Cate Navarrete, Mohican
- Danny Calder, Mohican
- Hannah Owings, Robin Hood
The rest . . .
The league’s preseason projections also have these teams winning. But every year, plucky teams with bottom seeds climb their way to the top of their divisions to become the envy of their peers as divisional champs.
- Clarksburg Village (Division G)
- T-North Chevy Chase (Division H)
T-Inverness Forest (Division H) - Potomac (Division I)
- T-Old Farm (Division J)
T-Poolesville (Division J) - T-Whetstone (Division K)
T-Waters Landing (Division K) - Forest Knolls (Division L)
- James Creek (Division M)
- Diamond Farm (Division N)
- Flower Hill (Division O)
