Westlake girls sweep

Swim team knocks off McDonough and Great Mills

Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2009

The waves had plenty of company on Friday evening when Great Mills, Westlake and McDonough faced off in a tri-meet at the Lackey High School pool.

The boys of Great Mills (4-2 overall) were triumphant, beating Westlake, 153-100, and McDonough, 157-99, with standout Ivan Palaroan taking home a double win. Westlake (1-1) defeated McDonough (0-2), 163-118.

The girls of Westlake (2-0) took care of their first meet of the season, beating McDonough, 150-99, and Great Mills, 133-126, thanks in part to three relay victories. Great Mills (2-4) defeated McDonough (0-2), 169-99.

Palaroan took first in the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 23.91 seconds and first in the 100 butterfly (1:02.26). He also took part in the 200 medley relay event, swimming the first leg of the victorious team with a first-place time of 1 minute 57.38 seconds. Palaroan then teamed up with Mattias Falcon, Conor Smith and Christopher Staley in the 400 freestyle relay that also took home a victory Friday night with a time of 3:59.18.

"Tonight went better than I expected," Palaroan said. "I expected a lot more from these two teams here. I took a break over the summer but for my junior year I've been trying to step up a little bit now. We have some first time swimmers such as Matt Bogdan that are doing really well."

An injury has kept Bogdan from being on the Hornets wrestling team, but he has found this new sport to be a good fit.

"It's my first year in the sport," Bogdan said. "I've never swam before and because of great leaders like Ivan and Melissa [Boughton] on the team it helps."

Smith finished first in the 200 freestyle (2:18.34) and Gina Holden was the 200 individual medley winner on the girls side — which she admits is not her best event – with a winning time of 2:44.21.

"I just go strong on the backstroke because I'm slower on the breaststroke," Holden said, "but I just like to go out and finish hard. It's actually my worse event. I don't really train hard for IM."

Westlake's double winner on the boys side was junior Matthew Cooke, who was coming off of a four-week illness. He pushed himself and managed to take first in the 500 free (6:21.24) and the 100 back (1:11.48).

"Great Mills, they're the tough ones to beat today," Cooke said. "I prepared enough. I was really sick for the past four weeks."

McDonough's solo winner on the boys side was senior Steve Raley, winning the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:16.51, over seven seconds faster than his toughest competition.

Westlake's captain Amelia Tarlton was a single winner, taking first in the 100 free with a time of 1:01.56, four one-hundredths of a second ahead of Holden. Tarlton also swam the third leg of the winning 200 medley relay (2:08.75) and the third leg of the winning 200 free relay (1:56.71).

"I usually miss the first meet," Tarlton said. "It was amazing for our first meet. I think everyone was really excited today. Our coaches are amazing again this year. They still remind us that they're the fastest coaches in SMAC. We definitely lost some key swimmers. Our boys team is rebuilding, but we brought in some freshmen that have been doing really well, especially Colleen Newsome."

Allison Duncan and Ebony Sherrill were double winners for the Wolverines. Duncan claimed the 200 free (2:24.05) and 500 free (6:25.20), while Sherrill won the 50 free (26.81) and the 100 breast (1:22.74).

tshowalter@somdnews.com

Results

Boys

Westlake 163, McDonough 118

Great Mills 153, Westlake 100

Great Mills 157, McDonough 99

Double winners: Palaroan GM (50 free 23.91, 100 fly 1:02.26);

Cooke W (500 free 6:21.24, 100 back 1:11.48)

Single winners: Smith GM (200 free 2:18.34); Brigham GM (200 IM 2:39.75); Staley GM (100 free 58.00); Raley McD (100 breast 1:16.51); Great Mills 200 medley relay (1:57.38); Great Mills 200 free relay (1:54.16); Great Mills 400 free relay (3:59.18)

Girls

Westlake 150, McDonough 99

Westlake 133, Great Mills 126

Great Mills 169, McDonough 99

Double winners: Duncan W (200 free 2:24.05, 500 free 6:25.20);

Sherrill W (50 free 26.81; 100 breast 1:22.74)

Single winners: Holden GM (200 IM 2:44.21); Adams GM (100 fly 1:16.09); Tarlton W (100 free 1:01.56); Impastato W (100 back 1:19.77); Westlake 200 medley relay (2:08.75); Westlake 200 free relay (1:56.71); Westlake 400 free relay (4:55.16)