O’Connell Sophomore Kate Ziegler’s two record-breaking swims sparked the Knights to the prestigious WMPSSDL championship at George Mason University on Feb. 7. Bishop Ireton finished third, while Paul VI finished ninth.

Twenty-six private or "prep" schools from Virginia, D.C. and Maryland participated in the meet. O’Connell finished with 262 points, edging out perennial power Good Counsel by two points. Ireton had 244 points, while PVI had 129.

Ziegler finished first in the 200 free (1:49.41) and 500 free (4:44.90), shattering the previous meet records in both events. Senior Annie Ferguson placed third in the 200 IM (2:17.41) and fourth in the 500 free (5:18.16). Freshman Kaeley Boyle was fourth in the 100 free (56.16) and fourth in the 100 back (1:03.1). Freshman Kristin Fimian placed sixth in the 50 free (25.55) and eighth in the 100 butterfly (1:02.71). Sophomore Lauren Bryan was ninth in the 100 free (58.21).

Freshman Jackie Parker finished ninth in one meter springboard diving (245.19 points) while sophomore Christina Marsilii finished 14^th.

"Both the 200 and the 500 were my best high school times of the season," said Ziegler, who swims year-round with the FISH swim club. "If everything goes as planned I will travel to Long Beach, Calif., to participate in the 2004 Olympic swimming trials this July."

"Both of Kate's times were meet records. She trains very hard," said O'Connell Head Coach Evan Stiles.

"Both the 200 individual medley and the 500 free were my best times of the season," said Ferguson. "I had some real good turns in the former."

"I was very excited and pleased with both of my times," said Boyle.

The O'Connell relay teams were spectacular and proved to be the difference in the meet. Both the 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams captured the gold medal. Fimian, Boyle, Bryan and Ziegler blistered second place Good Counsel in the 200 by more than 1.5 seconds, with a superb 1:42.12. Boyle, Ferguson, Fimian and Ziegler defeated second-place Holton Arms in the 400 by more than two seconds with a superb 3:42.8.

"Overall, the girls swam awesome. It was a great meet. The girls’ lineup that we used was the strongest one possible," said Stiles, completing his 11th year as head coach.

Colleen Sullivan led the Ireton girls. She finished second in the 50 free (24.58) and fourth in the 200 free (1:59.51). Freshman Caitlin McHale was second in the 100 breast (1:10.6). Sophomore Mary Kate Ganssle was third in the 100 breast (1:10.8). Junior Morgan Hall was third in the 100 butterfly (1:01.52) and ninth in the 200 free (2:02.94). Senior Kara Verducci was sixth in the 100 back (1:04.2) and ninth in the 500 free (5:30.2). Senior Alaina McMurray was eighth in the 100 back (1:04.9) and 12th in the 100 free (58.60).

The Ireton relays were solid. The 200 medley relay (Verducci, McHale, Jarvis and Sullivan) earned second place (1:55.23). The 200 free relay (Hall, LeBlanc, McMurray and Sullivan) earned third place (1:43.85). The 400 free relay (Jarvis, McMurray, K. Verducci and Hall) placed seventh (3:52.4).

"We've got a lot of girls that can swim a number of events," said Head Coach Peggy Verducci, the mother of two Ireton swimmers. "This is essentially a "blue-collar" team. It was a real collective effort. Our goal is to do as well as we can at the Virginia Independent Schools Championships (Feb. 21) and at the prestigious Metros meet (Feb. 28)."

Sullivan is by most accounts the most decorated female swimmer in Ireton history. The senior has the school record in the 50, 100 and 200 free. Kara Verducci has the school record in the 100 back.

Spearheading the Panthers was junior Lauren Walter who placed sixth in the 100 free (56.52) and 12th in the 200 free (2:04.75). Junior Stasia Rapp was ninth in the 100 butterfly (1:01.96). Junior Emily Campbell placed ninth in the 50 free 26.05), while sophomore Ana Jakabcin finished 11th in the 50 free (26.44).

Jakabcin, Campbell, Shumaker and sophomore Brittany Lutz competed well in the 500 free, but none cracked the top 12. Finally, senior Jenny Sherman and freshman Caroline Manning competed well in one meter springboard diving but neither cracked the top 12.