The 39th annual Washington Metro Interscholastic Swim/Dive Championships took place Feb. 22-25 at the Montgomery Aquatic Center in Maryland. (Final team scores were unavailable as the HERALD went to press because the diving competition had not yet been completed). Nearly 65 schools participated from Virginia, Maryland and the District.

Bishop O'Connell, Bishop Ireton and Paul VI all turned in excellent performances. As of Feb. 24 the O'Connell girls and the Ireton girls were each in the top six overall. The PVI girls and boys, O'Connell boys and Ireton boys were all in the "upper tier.

O'CONNELL GIRLS

Freshman Kate Ziegler placed first in the 500 freestyle (4:47.78), setting a Metro meet record by 1.25 seconds. She placed third in the 200 freestyle (1:51.59). Sophomore Laura Beth Puglisi finished fourth in the 100 butterfly (59.88) and 14th in the 100 backstroke (1:03.69). Junior Samantha Nasakaitis finished 12th in the 100 breaststroke (1:12.54) and junior Annie Ferguson 15th in the 200 freestyle (2:03.52).

"Both of Kate's times were automatic All-American times," said O'Connell coach Evan Stiles. "In fact, her 4:47.78 is actually the fastest time in America as of this date for the 500 freestyle. Kate is gifted, she works hard and really has the drive."

"Laura Beth is also a standout soccer player. The weather conditions lately [inability to attend swim practices with regularity] and her ongoing soccer commitments probably played a part in her times being somewhat off," Stiles said. "L.B. has high expectations of herself. She just had an off night in both races."

"The water temperature just seemed very warm. I picked a bad day not to have my best," said Puglisi.

"Samantha has improved so much from last season," Stiles said. "Annie is a very solid swimmer. She had some degree of a cold or cough and that may have hurt her time tonight."

In addition, the Lady Knights’ 4 x 100 freestyle relay team (Puglisi, freshman Elizabeth Lee, Ferguson and Ziegler) placed sixth (3:46.10); and the 4 x 50 freestyle relay team (Puglisi, Lee, Emily Spellerberg and Ziegler) placed seventh (1:43.65).

"Both of those relay times were pretty close to the best of the season," said Stiles.

"The relays are the most fun. I like the camaraderie with my teammates," said Ziegler, who also is the nation’s top-ranked 14-yeard-old in the 1500 meter freestyle. She swims year-round for the FISH swim club.

O'CONNELL BOYS

The boys’200 medley relay team (sophomore John Dragelin, sophomore Nick Macedonia, junior Thomas Rooney and senior Ben Mulloy) finished sixth (1:46.69). Macedonia finished ninth in the 100 breaststroke (1:03.55). Dragelin placed 10th in the 500 freestyle (4:56.15).

"The 200 medley relay had its best time of the entire year," said Stiles. "Macedonia lowered his time by nearly two seconds in the 100 breast. Senior Drew Hellman was out of town. He would have definitely helped us tonight."

IRETON GIRLS

Junior Colleen Sullivan finished second in the 50 freestyle (24.26) and sixth in the 100 freestyle (54.57). Sophomore Kassandra Jarvis was 10th in the 100 butterfly (1:01.50) and freshman Mary Kate Ganssle 15th in the 100 breaststroke (1:12.93).

"I was very excited about the 50 race," said Sullivan. "I knocked about 1/2 second off of my previous best. Everything came together for me tonight."

In addition, the girls’ 4 x 50 freestyle relay team (senior Meredith Hughes, junior Jill LeBlanc, junior Alaina McMurray and Sullivan) placed fourth (1:41.51). The 200 medley relay team (junior Kara Verducci, Ganssle, senior Katie McSween and Hughes) placed seventh (1:58.24) and the 4 x 100 freestyle relay team (McMurray, Jarvis, sophomore Morgan Hall and Sullivan) placed eighth (3:48.15).

"Regarding the 4 x 50 relay, we all did our best and we had fun tonight," said Sullivan.

"In the 200 medley relay we swam our best. I'm very happy with the time," said McSween.

IRETON BOYS

Senior Chris Soniak finished first in the 100 butterfly (51.48) and second in then 50 freestyle (21.94). Senior Patrick Woodward was sixth in the 100 breaststroke (1:03.88).

"The 51.48 and the 21.94 were each my second best times of the season," said Soniak. "A couple of weeks ago I did a 51.15 and a 21.65. Tonight in the 100

butterfly I made my mind up that I was going to win."

Soniak is being recruited by Va. Tech, Notre Dame and Clemson among others.

In addition, the boys’ 200 medley relay team (senior Alex Spotswood, Woodward, Soniak and junior Ryan Raftery) placed seventh (1:47.14).

PVI GIRLS

Senior Jen Tan was ninth in the 100 butterfly (1:01.17) and 14th in the 200 individual medley (2:18.79). Senior Anne Bruns placed 14th in the 100 breaststroke (1:12.70).

PVI BOYS

The 4 x 50 freestyle relay team (junior Pat Cureton, junior Luke Kieler, junior Mike Chauvin and senior Shea Manning placed fifth (1:33.34). Cureton finished sixth in the 100 butterfly (54.45) and 16th in 100 backstroke (1:00.87).

"I'm very pleased with the 1:33.34," said Kieler. "We came into the meet as the sixth seed. Our touches were definitely solid. It was a good effort all around."