The Whitman Vikings are one of several area teams to watch the rest of the season (Photo by Drew Meyer).
Happy New Year swim fans! Welcome back to our coverage of the high school swim season.
In the first month of the season we’ve started to follow the area’s top teams and up-and-coming swimmers and we’ve checked in with state and Metros title contenders.
Today, we want to hear from you. Since it’s awfully tough to keep track of every team and every stand out swimmer, we’d like your help. So our question for today is:
Which teams and individuals are the top contenders for end-of-season titles and accolades and what teams and individuals may be flying under the radar at the moment, but could have an impact by season’s end?
stats corner
Watch out for the Wootton boys! They will give Churchill a run for the County title this year.
I would look out for Robinson in Virginia obviously. Their main competiors will be Oakton and Langley. Fairfax also looks good, as well as Woodson. But Robinson has the tradition and competitiveness needed to win.
Jack Conger is a freshman at Our Lady of Good Counsel is RMSC’s star swimmer and definitely a big threat to many WMPSSDL swimmers. He used to hold a NAG record (surpassed by Ryan Murphy in December) for the 13-14 boys 200 back and got 6th at SC Jr. Nationals. Philip Hu, Bradley Phillips, and KJ Park are BEASTS, and Oakton is doing very well (and will do even better next year, what, with the phenominal Janet Hu on the team…unless she applies to Thomas Jefferson?). Robinson and Langley are also very good.
for guys, i think Bradley Phillips (Oakton), Chuck Katis (Langley), and Joey Kelly (Fairfax) could be double winners. Also watch for KJ Park (Oakton) and Ricky Munch from Robinson.
Georgetown Prep will take metros, no question.
Elizabeth Pepper for the girls…, Ali Horn in Va AA and AAA should be fun to watch, lots of good girls so some good racing but will have to wait for Hu for any record breaking swims unless that is where the NOVA swimmers compete
WHITMAN GIRLS GONNA WIN METROS WOOHOO
JANET HU IS A BEAST!!! shes gonna break all the records…
In Montgomery County:
Danielle Schulkin & Elizabeth Pepper will give evryone the best 100 Fly race
Georgetown Prep Boys will probably win Metros with their relay teams that include Andrew Tollefson & Raymond Chi – Breaststsroke, and Garrett Powell for 500 Free or 100 Back.
Wootton well rounded swimmers will do well at Counties and Metros.
Good Counsel Boys with Jack Conger.
Watch out for some swimmers in Division III like Tyler Pham (100 Back, 100 Fly) and Ellen Anderson (500 Free, 100 Back)
Don’t forget about Jonathon Ekstrom from Georgetown Prep who broke the PVS Resident record in 200 IM at Jr. Nats – he is coming in for a great season.
I think Elizabeth Pepper is going for the freestyle events this year. There will be some great races between Pepper and Katie Rogers. The 100 fly will most likely be a match up between Schulkin and Natalya Ares.
Andrew Tollefson is also not on Georgetown Prep but Walter Johnson.
Other swimmers to watch out for that have not been mentioned:
Sarah Haase
Cara Chaung
For 100 fly don’t forget about Elizabeth Fosburgh who is a Freshman this year – she swam a 1:03 at Coaches Long Course this summer and should be a player this year. Also, Charlotte Meyer a freshman at Whitman – look for her in the 200 IM.
i’m lookin forward to seein how fast Sean Sullivan gets this season. he’s improved his speed, size, and strength tremendously since last year. i think this year is his breakout year and next year he stomps on all his brother Pat’s times.
Oakton should destroy Robinson at Concord districts.
Woodson looking stronger and langley gonna compete at regions