For the first time in years, Bay Rivers District swimming programs will not congregate for a 10-team championship meet in early February.
Instead, under the Virginia High School League’s new postseason realignment, schools will split up and head to enrollment-based conferences and compete against four or five other teams for a spot in their respective region meets.
Perennial area powers Jamestown, Tabb and Grafton will compete in Class 4A Conference 19 in hopes of qualifying for a spot in the 4A South Region meet. Lafayette, York, New Kent and Warhill will swim against Colonial Heights in Class 3A’s Colonial Conference 25 for a spot in the 3A East Region meet. Bruton, the area’s smallest school, will represent the district in Class 2A.
The new playoff system could very well tarnish some of the area rivalries — such as the always anticipated Jamestown-Lafayette meet, which last year decided the regular-season champion — but it cannot take away from the quality of swimming the talent-rich Peninsula seems to annually produce.
So, with that we offer a brief look at five boys and girls swimmers who won’t be swimming for Bay Rivers District titles this winter, but whose names to keep in mind come postseason time.
BOYS
Carter Kale, junior, Lafayette
The district’s top returning swimmer? Kale is coming off a 2012-13 season in which he captured a pair of gold medals in the 500 free and 200 IM and helped the Rams boys team to a second place finish at the Group AA state meet. He won the 500 free by over half a pool length before winning the 200 IM on the final stroke. So far this season Kale has the area’s top time in the (4:49.47) and the 100 fly (52.75)
Trevor Jones, senior, Tabb
Jones touched the wall just ahead of teammate James Kegelman to win the 100 breaststroke in 59.15 seconds at last year’s Group AA state meet. Tigers coach Mike Sinclair says Jones, who has posted some of the area’s top times in the 200 IM and 500 freestyle, has stepped up as a senior captain and filled spots in races he does not normally swim. Should again challenge for state gold in the 100 breaststroke.
Jonathan Spires, sophomore, Grafton
Spires had an outstanding debut season as a freshman last year. He swam a swift 1:44.81 to win the 200 free at the Bay Rivers District meet before placing third (1:45.68) in the event at the Group AA meet. Spires also swam a leg in Grafton’s gold medal 200 and 400 meter relay squads at states as well. Clippers coach Whitney Riefler said the big-meet experience Spires gained last year will pay dividends at this year’s state meet, where she expects the sophomore standout to contend for gold medals in both the 100 and 200 freestyle events.
Andrew Ferguson, senior, Grafton
One of area’s fastest swimmers who does not compete year-round, look for Ferguson to challenge for a spot in the top eight of the 50 free at states this season. Earlier this season in a dual meet against Lafayette, Ferguson won the 50 free in 22.03.
Kevin Mastracci, senior, York
The third of four brothers to come through York High, Kevin, like his two older brothers Brian and Tim, is a sound swimmer and reliable team leader. Mastracci has posted one of the fastest times in the area in the 50 free this season (22.20) and should challenge for a state gold medal in the 100 meter backstroke, an event he placed sixth in at last year’s Group AA state meet.
Others: Connor Flannery, sophomore, Lafayette; Tyler Titsch, junior, Grafton; James Kegelman, Tabb.
GIRLS
Cait Horner, senior, Grafton
Look for Horner, who recently signed with University of Houston, to contend for gold medals in the 50 and 100 free events at states this year. She placed fifth in the 50 free (26.49) and sixth in the 100 free (54.16) at states last year and has already dropped times in both of those events this season. Her times of 24.90 in the 50 free and 54.43 in the 100 free are both tops in the area so far this season.
Kate Maw, junior, Tabb
As a sophomore last season, Maw finished in the top 10 of two individual events — 200 free and 100 back — and also helped Tabb’s 200 freestyle relay squad finish sixth at last year’s Group AA state meet. She’s already met state-qualifying times in the 100 back and leads the Tigers in points scored this season.
Jessica and Jenna Beattie, sophomores, Lafayette
Both twins are diverse swimmers who can compete in and win any event. Both of them won their events in a dual meet against Grafton, the best team the Eagles have swum against so far. Rams coach Harold Baker, who also coaches both swimmers year-round, said both have improved upon their breakout campaigns as freshmen and hopes each can place in the top five of their respective events at states — Jenna in the 200 and 500 freestyle events and Jessica in the 200 IM and 100 backstroke.
Kylee Roehrle, junior, Jamestown
After missing a full season as a freshman, Roehrle spent her sophomore season working her way back into swimming shape. Now, as one of several versatile swimmers Jamestown coach Molly Sandling has the privilege of deploying in multiple events this winter, Roehrle has been among the fastest swimmers in the area in the 50 free, 200 free and 100 fly.
Joelle Vereb, freshman, Jamestown
Even on a loaded Jamestown team rich with talent, Vereb, who is already receiving letters Division I schools, has been turning heads this winter and is considered by some as the fastest swimmer in the Bay Rivers District. She has posted some of the area’s top times in the 200 free, 100 fly and 100 backstroke events so far this season.
Others: Margaret Williams, sophomore, Jamestown; Taylor Vitaletti, junior, Jamestown; Rachel Rymer, sophomore, Grafton.
