By Liz Keller / Scrimmageplaycva.com contributor
FORK UNION – The Western Albemarle girls swim team used a total team effort to capture the Jefferson District crown on Saturday at Fork Union’s Aquatic Center.
The Warriors piled up 245 points to easily outdistance second-place Charlottesville (169), while Fluvanna finished third with 109 points.
“We always aim for steps and the district championship is one step along the path for these girls,” said Western Albemarle coach Dan Bledsoe, who was named the girls district coach of the year. “We’re a very talented team, but you want to prove it in the pool, and it was nice to see the kids step up and prove it in the pool. Hopefully it’s just a nice springboard going forward.”
The Warriors started off strong with a win in the 200-meter medley relay. The team of Anna Corley, Natalie Cronk, Seana Acker and Katie Lesemann posted a time of 2:05.90, finishing ahead of Charlottesville and nearly setting a team record in the process.
Western, which finished as the state runner-up last year, continued with the pace, as Cronk, Acker and Emma McKinley each won two events. Cronk, who was named the girls swimmer of the year, took the top spot in the 100-meter fly and 100-meter backstroke, while Acker won the 100-meter freestyle and 100-meter breaststroke. McKinley was first in the 200 and 400-meter freestyle.
“I get to train with some really fast girls and we all work together to keep each other positive,” Cronk said. “[To win] was really amazing. We didn’t know we were going to be able to do that. It is a really good accomplishment.”
The Warriors also had strong performances from Elsa Strickland (200 free) and Lexi Campbell (200 IM, 200 breaststroke) as well as Becca Moriconi, Carly Witt and Annabeth Higgins.
“For us, it was a total team thing,” Bledsoe said. “From the elite girl to our non-year-round swimmers, all dropped times and had a great meet. We talked about how we don’t have a ‘B’ squad – we’re all ‘A’ squad. We all go out there and swim our best and see how things happen, and the kids bought into that.”
Other notable performances included Charlottesville’s Brodde Lamb, who won the 200 IM, and Fluvanna County’s Chelsea Tomko, who took the top spot in the 50-meter freestyle. Lamb also helped the Black Knights win the 400-meter freestyle relay, along with teammates Dania Jazouli, Storrs Lamb and Charlotte Keeley.
The top six in each event and those with qualifying times advance to the Region II meet, which will be held Saturday at Fork Union.
