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Swimming: Doral Academy Defends District Title, Ready For State Meet

Sharon BlockSFHSSports: Twitter | Facebook

Doral Academy defended its' titles at the recent District 12-3A Swimming and Diving Championships and are one meet away from a return trip to state.

The defending state champion boys' team won with 479 points ahead of Belen Jesuit (467), Mater Academy (304), TERRA (292), Hialeah-Miami Lakes (160) and Westland Hialeah (124).

The Firebirds were led by individual event winners Diego Faucher in the 50-yard freestyle (21.79) and 100-yard freestyle (48.89) and sophomore Adrian Aguilar in the 500-yard freestyle (4:40.76).

In an exciting 200-yard freestyle relay race, the Firebirds' relay of David Montana, Adrian Moya, Adrian Aguilar and Diego Faucher outsprinted Belen Jesuit's Daniel Simpson, Max Garcia del Pozo, Juan Ramirez and Aitor Fungairino, by 56/100ths of a second (1:29.16-1:29.72).

In another close relay race, this time Belen Jesuit's Simpson, Garcia del Pozo, Alejandro Carriazo and Fungairino edged Doral Academy's Montana, Moya, Aguilar and Faucher, 3:13.14-3:13.58, in the 400-yard freestyle relay.

The girls' team won with 553 points followed by TERRA (461), Mater Academy (335), Hialeah-Miami Lakes (143) and Westland Hialeah (124).

Doral's girls won the 200-yard individual medley relay with Melannie Vargas, Stephanie Suarez, Alexandra Rubiano and Stephanie Sequera (1:55.77) and 400-yard freestyle relay with Rubiano, Vargas, Stephanie Hernandez and Sequera (3:46.42).

Doral individual winners were Hernandez in the 200-yard freestyle (1:59.14) and 100-yard freestyle (55.05); Vargas in the 200-yard individual medley (2:14.29) and 100-yard backstroke (1:01.10); and Suarez in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:10.41).

Doral will compete in this week's Region 4-3A meet hosted by Estero High School at Florida Gulf Coast University/Lee Aquatic Center.

The 3A and 4A teams will compete in the region meets to qualify for the Nov. 4-5 FHSAA State Championships at Sailfish Splashpark Aquatic Athletics Center.

The 1A and 2A teams will start qualifying at this week's district meets throughout South Florida.

In other district 3A and 4A meets:

DISTRICT 9-4A: St. Thomas Aquinas swept the boys (506) and girls (518.5) team titles. The Raiders' Sarah Asseraf was a double winner in the 100-yard butterfly (1:01.96) and 200-yard individual medley (2:17.44) and was a member of the winning 200-yard medley and 400-yard freestyle relays. The boys' team was led by double winner Padraic Cassidy in the 200-yard freestyle (1:46.15) and 500-yard freestyle (4:44.85). He was also a member of the winning 400-yard freestyle relay and runner-up 200-yard freestyle relay.

DISTRICT 10-4A: Cypress Bay won the boys (618) and girls (622) team titles. Senior Emiliana Pelaez won the 200-yard freestyle (1:57.64) and 100-yard freestyle (54.18). Cypress Bay's Eric Veit won the 50-yard freestyle (22.34) and 100-yard breaststroke (1:04.15). 2016 U.S. Olympic trials qualifier Kathleen Golding, a Cooper City sophomore, won the 200-yard individual medley (2:04.71) and 100-yard butterfly (57.81). Cooper City junior Heath Brames won the 200-yard freestyle (1:47.14) and 100-yard freestyle (49.11).

DISTRICT 11-4A: Miami Beach won the boys (428) and girls (421) team titles. The boys team was led by Andrew Garcia, winner of the 50-yard freestyle (22.81) and 100-yard freestyle (50.17). The girls were led by April Mullen, winner of the 100-yard butterfly (1:09.89) and winning 400-yard freestyle relay. Jessica Rodriguez of Hialeah Gardens won the 200-yard individual medley (2:16.52) and 100-yard breaststroke (1:08.26).

DISTRICT 12-4A: Ferguson boys (357) and Coral Reef girls (486) won the team titles. Ferguson was led by Joseph Cardozo in the 200-yard freestyle (1:46.86) and Marcelo Laurique in the 200-yard individual medley (1:58.96) and 100-yard breaststroke (59.17). Ferguson won the 200-yard medley relay (1:45.31). Coral Reef was led by sophomore Sidney Starman, winner of the 200-yard freestyle (2:00.67) and 500-yard freestyle (5:28.29); senior Cloe Bedard-Khalid, winner of the 200-yard individual medley (2:14.33) and 100-yard butterfly (59.47); and sophomore Sasha Cancel in the 50-yard freestyle (27.25) and 100-yard freestyle (1:00.31). Coral Reef also won the 400-yard freestyle relay (3:58.10).

DISTRICT 11-3A: Fort Lauderdale defended its boys (562) and girls (552) team titles. Rival Pembroke Pines Charter was runner-up. The boys team was led by Tyler Zuyus, winner in the 200-yard freestyle (1:44.17) and 100-yard backstroke (54.44); Philippe Marcoux in the 50-yard freestyle (21.30) and 100-yard freestyle (46.77); and winning 200- and 400-yard freestyle relays. The girls winners were Morgan Meadows in the 200-yard freestyle (2:01.87) and 100-yard freestyle (55.37); Gina Rodriguez in the 500-yard freestyle (5:43.19); and Kaitlyn Moreschi in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:12.19). The girls also won the 200-yard medley and 400-yard freestyle relays.

COMMITS

University School's Allison Kopas, whose older sister Emily competes for Michigan, verbally committed to Nebraska. The Scholastic All-American swimmer made finals in the 200-yard individual medley and 100-yard backstroke at last year's 1A state meet. "I am excited about being a part of the Nebraska swimming family," Kopas said. "Nebraska has everything I am looking for in a school, academically and athletically."

Doral Academy's Melannie Vargas verbally committed to Florida International University. Vargas will swim the backstroke events for the two-time Conference USA champions. Last season she qualified for the final at the state 3A meet. "I fell in love with the facilities and the welcoming spirit of the team and coaches," Vargas said. "The team has also improved a great deal in recent years."

REGION 3A & 4A MEET SCHEDULE

Region 3-4A: at Bobcat Aquatic Complex, (host Boca Raton), Friday, diving 11 a.m., swimming 5 p.m.

Region 4-4A: at Bobcat Aquatic Complex, (host Boca Raton), Thursday, diving 11 a.m., swimming 5 p.m.

Region 3-3A: at Florida Gulf Coast Aquatic Center, (host Estero), Saturday, swimming and diving, 5 p.m.

Region 4-3A: at Florida Gulf Coast Aquatic Center, (host Estero), Saturday, swimming and diving, 9 a.m.

DISTRICT 1A & 2A SCHEDULE

District 11-2A: at Northeast (host Cardinal Gibbons), Saturday, swimming and diving, noon.

District 12-2A: at Gulliver Prep Aquatic Center (host Gulliver Prep), Saturday, noon.

District 10-1A: at Duff Tyler Aquatic Complex, (host St. Andrew's), Thursday, swimming, 5 p.m., diving, 6 p.m.

District 11-1A: at Nova Southeastern Aquatic Center, (host University School), Thursday, swimming and diving, 10:30 a.m.

District 12-1A: at Ransom Everglades (swimming) and Founders Park (diving), Tuesday, swimming and diving, 4 p.m.

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