Both Ireton and Paul VI participated in the 2005 V.I.S. Swim/Dive Championships held Feb. 18-19 at Hargrave Academy in Chatham. Nearly 25 schools participated on both the girls and the boys sides respectively. O'Connell, coached by Evan Stiles, chose not to participate.

The Ireton girls had an outstanding meet and placed second overall, their highest finish in school history. Spearheading the Lady Cardinals was: Mary-Kate Ganssle - 100 breast (third place - 1:10.76); Katherine Jones - 500 free (fourth - 5:22.71) and 200 free (fifth - 2:00.17); Morgan Hall - 100 butterfly (fourth - 1:00.83) and 100 free (sixth - 55:43); Kassandra Jarvis - 100 back (sixth - 1:02.71/school record) and 100 butterfly (seventh - 1:02.16); Caitlin McHale - 100 breast (sixth - 1:12.22); Tess Ganssle - 100 breast (seventh - 1:12.73); Jill LeBlanc - 50 free (ninth - 25.70); Sarah Barham – 100 breast (ninth - 1:12.31); Katie Imbriglia - diving (10th - 201.45 total points).

In addition, the Lady Cardinal: 4 x 100 free relay placed fifth (3:45.89)[Jones, Jarvis, LeBlanc, Hall]; 4 x 50 free relay placed sixth (1:45.06)[LeBlanc, Katie McDonald, Colleeen McFadden, Hall]; 4 x 50 medley relay placed seventh (1:56.89) [Emily Milliken, M.K. Ganssle, Jarvis, McDonald].

The Paul VI girls also had an outstanding meet and placed third overall. Leading the Lady Panthers was: Natalie Matheny - 100 breast (fourth - 1:11.20); Caroline Manning - diving (fourth - 226.75 total points); Tana King - 200 free (sixth - 2:01.18) and 100 free (seventh - 55.55); Emily Campbell - 100 free (ninth - 55.89) and Lauren DePont - 100 back (ninth - 1:03.96).

In addition, the Lady Panther 4 x 50 free relay placed third (1:43.38/school record) [Campbell, Anna Jakabcin, Lauren Walter, King]; 4 x 50 medley relay placed fourth (1:54.71/best time of season) [DePont, Matheny, Stasia Rapp, Campbell]; 4 x 100 free relay placed sixth (3:48.18/best time of season) [Matheny, DePont, Jakabcin, King].

On the boys side - PVI placed sixth overall. Leading the Panthers: Thomas Hale-Kupiec - 100 free (third - 49.19) and 200 free (third - 1:46.33); Bobby Lytle - 100 back (fourth - 55.20) and 50 free (sixth - 22.91); John Fletcher - diving (seventh - 233.60 points).

In addition, the Panther 4 x 100 free relay placed third (3:21.50/best of season) [Lytle, Joe Sherman, Mike Kane, Hale-Kupiec); 4 x 50 medley relay

placed sixth (1:43.71/best of season) [Lytle, Stephen Huether, Kane, Hale-Kupiec].

Ireton placed 13th overall. Pacing the Cardinals was: "Briggy" Imbriglia - diving (second - 387.80 total points/All-State mark); Ray Curry - diving (sixth - 249.85 total points); Jack Collins - 200 individual medley (ninth - 2:08.73); Michael Dickerson - 100 butterfly (13th - 58.04); Joel Patierno - 100 breast (15th - 1:07.93) and Kevin McTigue - diving (15th - 185.30 total points).

None of the Ireton boy relays placed in the top eight, but all three relays - led by seniors: Mike Marquet, Nick Ruehe and Joel Patierno – all turned in their best times of the season.