Albemarle’s boys and girls swimming squads have gotten used to making a big splash at the regional level. Even with an expanded region that includes twice as many teams, not a whole changed as the girls won the Region 5A North meet by 171 points, scoring 425 points in the rout while the boys took second place behind a loaded Thomas Jefferson team that won by 131 points.
The Albemarle girls got a big boost from Corie Morton, Emma Lockman and Hannah Harper’s individual victories, but depth also played a big role. In the 100-butterfly, for example, Harper won the event, Madison Noga snagged the runner-up spot and Jeanette Yan placed third.
Harper also took third in the 200 IM and swan on the Patriots two relay victories, the 200-free and 400-free. Abby Wuensch, who took fourth in the 50-free and fifth in the 100-free swam with Harper, Maggie Woods and Lockman on the 200-free title team. Morton, Yan, Harper and Wuensch teamed up in the 400-free.
Lockman won the 100-back where Yan placed fourth. Lockman also took fourth in the 200 IM right behind Harper.
Morton won the 500-free and took second in the 200-free that led another dominant event performance as Madison Noga finished third and Katie Pajewski took fourth. Pajewski also took fourth in the 200-free.
Woods finished second in the 50-free and swam on the second place 200-medley team for AHS with Ashley Huang, Megan Jones and Lockman.
Orange County’s Neilan sisters also had a strong meet on the girls side, with Larissa Neilan winning the 100-breast and taking second in the 200-IM. Alexandra Neilan snagged fourth place in the 100-fly and the sisters combined with Jessica McQuaid and Caroline Marquis to take fourth in the 200-medley relay.
On the boys side, the boys placed in the top three in two relays to power the second place team performance and got a lift from Andrew Williamson’s title-winning swim in the 100-breast. Reece Echelberger took fifth in that event as well.
Jack Robbins, who placed fourth in the 200-free and 500-free, led the second place 400-free relay team along with Jack Hensien, Hogan Harper and Echelberger.
Harper took second in the 200 IM and third in the 100-back.
The Patriots now turn their attention to the 5A State meet on February 22.
