Oakton's boys ended Robinson's seven-year reign as champions, but the Rams' girls started their own streak. (Photo by Paul Tenorio/The Washington Post)
VIRGINIA BEACH — Last year at the Virginia AAA swim and dive championships, Oakton senior K.J. Park started early in two relays, disqualifying his teams and — in his mind — costing the Cougars a shot at the state title. So going into Saturday’s state meet at the Princess Anne Recreation Center in Virginia Beach, Park said he felt a lot of stress as he looked to erase the painful memories from last year.
Park did more than that, winning two individual titles — breaking one state record and nearly snapping a national mark set by Ed Moses in 1998 — and also turning in a tremendous split in a national-record breaking 400 freestyle relay to lead Oakton to its first-ever boys’ state swim championship.
Oakton finished with 202 points, ahead of Langley (173), Fairfax (163) and Robinson (152).
“I’ve been working a lot on my relay starts and stuff,” said Park, laughing. “The whole year I couldn’t get over that I disqualified two of my relays and lost the state title. So I’m really glad I had a chance to pay it back.”
The Cougars’ win snapped the Robinson boys’ seven-year reign atop the state. But while one streak ended for the Rams, another started as the girls captured a second consecutive championship. Fittingly, the girls’ team rushed under the arms of a tunnel set up by the boys to take the trophy.
Robinson took the title in dominating fashion, finishing with 227.5 points, ahead of Langley (166), Osbourn (127) and Oakton (118).
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“I hope we keep going,” Robinson sophomore Rachel Canty said. “And that we can keep another run going like the boys did for so long.” (Watch Robinson’s girls’ 200 medley relay.)
In a meet in which the national high school short-course meters records were expected to fall — most states swim short-course yards — it didn’t take long for a new mark set to be set.
Langley’s 200-meter medley relay of Stephen Richards, Chuck Katis, Ryan Natal and Chris Pivik opened the meet by smashing their own record, set in the preliminaries on Friday, with a time of 1 minute 45.38 seconds, just ahead of Oakton’s 1:45.98, which also broke the previous record. The mark was one of 13 state and six national records turned in on the night. (Watch the Saxons relay.)
In one of the more impressive swims of the early portion of the meet, Oakton All-Met senior Bradley Phillips smashed the state record by almost two seconds in the 200 freestyle. Phillips held off Washington-Lee‘s Freddy Crawford (1:52.78) to set the new mark at 1:51.60, just two hundredths of a second shy of the national record. Later, Phillips topped the 400-meter freestyle national record by nearly three seconds with a time of 3:54.88.
See video of Phillips’ 200 freestyle swim.
“I didn’t really know I was .02 off until the medal ceremony,” said Phillips, who will swim at the University of Virginia. “I got the first place, that’s pretty good, but I really wanted the national record. I have not had one of those before so that was my goal going into the race. Just that and score points for my team, so I’m really pleased with that swim.”
Park knocked off a state mark in the 200 individual medley — a race in which the top three spots were separated by less than five-tenths of a second — with a time of 2:04.40. He then fell just two-tenths of a second short of Moses’s state and national mark in the 100-meter breaststroke with a time of 1:03.59.
Oakton All-Met junior Kaitlin Pawlowicz also had two very impressive swims.
After falling just short of the 200 individual medley national mark of 2:19.30 in preliminaries, Pawlowicz shattered the mark on Saturday, taking the title in 2:16.39 — almost three seconds ahead of the record and more than three seconds in front of her nearest competitor. (Watch the race.) Pawlowicz also won the 100 butterfly in 1:03.27. (See Pawlowicz talk about her two races.)
Fairfax‘s Joey Kelly won the 50- and 100-meter freestyle titles, setting a state record in the 50 in 23.67. (That mark was later bested by W.T. Woodson’s Kevin Vest, who led off the 200 freestyle relay with a time of 23.64.)
Langley’s girls 200 freestyle relay of Meghan Overend, Jayme Katis, Megan Howard and Abi Speers set a state and national record with a time of 1:48.94, downing the previous mark of 1:49.04 set by Yorktown in 2007. (Watch it here.)
Repeat champ: Another Robinson streak started this week as sophomore diver Cory Bowersox won a second-consecutive state diving title, smashing the state record with a score of 540.25. Fairfax junior Kelli Stockton won the girls’ title with a score 445.10.
Other winners: Battlefield’s Nick Tremols won the 100 butterfly (56.24) and Woodson’s boys’ set a state record with times of 1:36.59. Mountain View’s Josh Friedel won the 100 backstroke (56.89), West Springfield’s SinHye Won won the 100 breaststroke (1:11.54) and Osbourn’s girls’ 400 freestyle relay closed the night with a win in 3:59.07.
Watch Friedel win the 100 back.
Watch Tremols win the 100-meter butterfly.
EDITOR’S NOTE: We are not surrently able to filter the times from this meet among the area’s top times because it was conducted in a meter pool. Very soon we hope to convert the times and do so with a note that indicates that they are converted times.
Tags: AAA Northern Region, Abi Speers, Battlefield, Bradley Phillips, Concorde District, Fairfax, Kaitlin Pawlowicz, Langley, Mountain View, Nick Tremols, Oakton High School, Osbourn, Robinson, Virginia High School Swimming, W.T. Woodson, Washington-Lee, West Springfield
is this finally proof that AAA and the Northern region are better
How about a NATIONAL RECORD for Langley girls 200 free relay.
Kevin Vest broke the recently set 50 free record when leading off the 200 Free relay.
Fact Checker: Sorry, in the results it was marked with an asterisk — for state record — and not the pound sign, for national record. However, yes, it was a national record, too, thanks.
Video coming on that soon.
Katy, Try not to get to worked up ..not one of those scm records when converted to yards comes even close to a national record time or even a virginia state record time..
But a record is a record and its still an accomplishment and congrats to the swimmers.
Hscoach, it’s out of line to denigrate these records. These kids played the hands they were dealt. No doubt they would rather have been in a scy yards pool — one with proper warm-up and warm-down facilities — with the opportunity to attack scy records. Surely VHSL can do better for its kids given the level of swimming in the state. It was a far less than ideal situation for the kids, and the scm records were one of opportunities to make something exciting out of the situation.
The AA state finals were held on Saturday as well. The Washington Post should highlight the results and provide articles for these high schools. Several Northern Virginia High Schools won relays, several individual’s won events as well and/or placed in the top 3. Times from the AA meet would either win the AAA meet or place in the top 3.
Katy,
Grow up, please….. AAA Northern Region times are bound to be deeper and faster because of the sheer number of students at AAA schools. Most AAA schools have twice as many students as AA schools, plus there are more AAA schools to draw from. Common sense dictates that the AAA state meet would be faster and deeper. The same way it would be very hard for most AA schools to compete w/AAA schools in most other sports.
The question that begs clarification is why the AA meet was held at ODU in yards and the AAA meet in meters. The meets were in the same region, but held at different times of the day. Why couldn’t something have been worked out to run the AA early and the AAA meet later in the day? And if sc meters is the only course that the Eastern region can come up with, why shoyuldn’t they lose their spot in the rotation when they can’t provide an “accepted” pool? If it were football, would they play the State title game on a field that was only 90 yards long?
another coach-
do you really believe that Northern Region schools are better than their counterparts in the rest of the state because the schools are larger? Of course there is the AA/AAA difference but those teams don’t compete against each other at the state level. Even at the AAA level, yes – Northern Region schools are much bigger than those elsewhere. But, either way, you’re flat out incorrect. By your logic, Fairfax County teams should be better in every single sport, and that’s clearly not the case. Are our area teams deeper? No doubt. But talent in different sports excels in different parts of the state. Volleyball, field hockey, track, boys basketball, and wresting are completely dominated by schools outside of northern Virginia. Schools with much smaller enrollments. Meanwhile, Fairfax County completely pwns the rest of the state in sports like swimming and girls soccer (with a few others). So what is the real reason for the disparity?
Deeper yes again only because of the sheer numbes, but deeper has nothing to do quality at the top. Simple comparisons are easy for the every day person to make in swimming so even those who may challenge that AA is as fast or faster in certain events can go to the times…not a question, it is just a fact. That is one of the positives and negatives of swimming, times don’t lie…you always know where swimmers stand regardless of location.
Go check the times and the swimmer names, several of PVS top swimmers are in AA. Do the time comparison either from Regionals (were AAA where held in SC Yards) or the conversion (which isn’t as good), and it will show based on Facts alone that AA would have won several events and been in the top 3 in basically all events.
Question for Paul or anyone else out there who is “in the loop”:
Has VHSL made certain that times from this meet allow the swimmers to be considered for Automatic All American or All American Consideration? Please tell me they haven’t denied the kids this opportunity too. Does anyone know if times have been published for AA and AAC in scms?
This is a tough meet for any region to host, and thanks to the local schools and organizers who put it together. However, I agree with swim fan above. VHSL can do better and they let down the kids. Anyone from VHSL out there want to give us some insight?
Congrats to all the swimmers who stepped it up and did their best under the circumstances.
There are usually reasons why things are they way they are…can anyone in the know shed some light on why this facility is used when its the year for the state meet to be held in the tidewater area? Is it truly the ONLY pool in the area that is available on the correct weekend? Or, do the teams in this area have a lot of their regular meets and practices in a meter pool so when its their turn they actually PREFER the meters?
It seems strange that this would be the only possible pool in the area, so I’m guessing there must be other reasons. Someone mentioned the ODU pool, and I know there is Midtown Aquatic in Newport News that is in yards, has space for seating, PLUS has lanes for continuous warm-up/cool-down lanes.
Just curious….
First, they do have AA and AAC times for scm’s. Take a look at the AAA2007 results found on the VA swimming page and at the under every stroke result it gives the time.
Second, I wish parents would stop acting like their kid swam in a third world country..”stepped up” and “best of circumstances” should not be a part of the conversation. The swimmers in southern va have been swimming their district and regional s in these pools for years. AAA swims there every 3 or 4 years and its not a big deal.Look at the bright side..kids were able to get records they would not have gotten otherwise.
At the risk of incurring Katys wrath by sullying this topic with a” not aaa question” ..Can Paul or anyone tell me where I can find the AA results?
We’d love to have the results, but unfortunately no one has sent them our way. Does anyone have a Va AA contact that might be able to send us results? From there we could do a small write-up. Paul went to the Virginia AAAs and Matt went to the Montgomery County meet and then covered a basketball game, so we didn’t have anyone else to send to the AA meet. We’re sorry about that.
WOW, my apologies, HS Coach, I think you need a sensitivity check.
Read the message again: I said congratulations to “ALL” swimmers (that means every kid in the meet regardless of their region) who worked hard for their final meet of the season. They swam a state championship meet and did “THEIR BEST”. By circumstances I was referring to lack of warm up/warm down pool, which to many competitive swimmers makes a significant impact in their preparation for a swim as well as being prepared for the next day’s swim by the proper warm down.
Congratulations to the southern swimmers too – do you get it? Everyone who swam had an opportunity to break a record in an event that has not been contested in a state meet in 3 or 4 years. EVERYONE – SOUTHERN REGION SWIMMERS BROKE RECORDS TOO DIDN’T THEY?
As for the AA and AAC times, perhaps including them in the program would have been nice as I have seen done in past meets, please no insult intended here.
Finally, I found the organizers, staff facility, local merchants, etc. extremely helpful and accommodating. No one at all gave reference to third world county or conditions, poor choice of words.
You apology is accepted in advance.
To HS Coach: AAA and AAC times change from year to year (and have gotten faster each year) so these times from 2007 would not do much good other than giving people a vague idea where the 2009-2010 cuts might be.
Secondly, for everyone, why can’t people just be happy for how their kids/region did? It’s rediculous that every post on this site ends up sounding like a couple of teenagers saying “my school is better”.
Oh swim mom (of northern va)..I am sure your lack of a Thank You for answering your question and pointing you in the direction of where to find the AA/AAC times was just an over-site..
Your Welcome, in advance of course.
To Swim Mom:
In an earlier article about the venue, Paul wrote that the NISCA was working to create a chart of converted AAC and AAA times for yesterday’s meet. I talked to the officials yesterday and they had not received one. I have looked online and have not found it yet.
If anyone found where it might be posted please pass that on.
White flag thrown – this is nonsense.
To Nova Swim Coach:
Thanks for information and clarification on updated times. I missed Paul’s article and reference.
Hey everyone,
First of all I’m working on tracking down some Va. AA times so that I can get a story up. Second of all, we’ve had a ton of comments about All-American standards. As I wrote in my story about the pool, NISCA does have a conversion for meters-to-yards for All-American. They were hoping to get standards to me to bring to the meet, but they never sent that final approved standard. Read the story here: http://reachforthewall.com/2010/02/19/va-beach-pool-is-retooled-ahead-of-states/.
We are working on converting all of the times right now to put into our Top Times system. Once that’s done, all of the meters times will be in our Top Times section as converted yards, with an asterisk to let you know they are conversions. In the meantime, you can do conversions on individual times yourself using this chart, and then compare that converted time to the SCY All-American standards. Here’s the chart in .pdf format: http://reachforthewall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/conversion-method.pdf
Thanks for your patience as I track down Va. AA times.
If you go on the NISCA website under application their is a contact link for questions. Also, the application gives you a choice of scy or scm. In addition, you can find the past five years history of times, both AA and AAC. With the exception of the 500, all changes are about .5 or less so you could get a very good estimate.
Because the application allows you to put in a SCM time you probably wont have to worry about conversions which can be tricky because their are different formulas.
For example in 200 the AA time for w omens 100 back scy was 57.69 and the AA scm time was 104.11.
If you use the standard conversion the AA time would be 1.04.39, a little more” lenient” but other strokes have more give in the scm time so your best bet is to contact NISCA
Hi,
Not sure where to put these but here is a link to the VSIS results which include both PVS and VA schools..
http://www.swimmingworld.tv/storage/pdfresults/20100220vsis.pdf
The girls 500 winner was very,very fast.
http://virginiaswimming.org/HS%20Swimming/2009-2010/Meet%20Results/Swmm3Bkup-VHSL%20AA-A%20State%20HS%20CHamps%20Meet.zip
http://virginiaswimming.org/HS%20Swimming/2009-2010/Meet%20Results/VHSL%20AA-A%20State%20HS%20CHamps%20Meet%20Results.htm
I think, just an opinion, that although the rec center in VA Beach was very nice, folks ran a good meet, kudos to them, but it just is not a championship meet facility. It is a very long meet and to sit on a gym floor, no chairs allowed–understandable–but certainly not the most comfortable for the amount of hours the kids are there and to not have a warm-up or warm-down pool, is not, again just an opinion, the way a “State” meet should be run. Congrats to every kid there, each and every one I am sure tried hard and some did fantastic, others did not. That’s that way it goes some days. I just would think for a meet such as this, a better facility could be found.
VHSL has a long list of minimum requirements for hosting championships in football, basketball, volleyball etc. For example, you cannot host a AAA football championship unless you can seat at least 8000 spectators. VHSL says that site requirements for swimming are still “under development.”
These guidelines are way overdue. It shouldn’t be that hard to come up with a list of what a facility should have to host a championship swim meet. Maybe the people developing the requirements could use some input on what the minimum facilities should be. Maybe someone knows if this process has been delayed because the powers that be don’t want to disrupt the rotating state meet system that has developed in Virginia (or the ability to host the meet in a SCM pool).
If you go to this document and scroll to the end, it lists two staff contacts.
http://www.vhsl.org/files/facilities-requirements-for-championship-events.pdf
At the AA championship meet at ODU, the boys and girls were forced to swim in separate prelims sessions because there was no place to put them all.
The high school state meets should be held at the best, fastest pools in our state, where there is adequate seating for swimmers and spectators. There absolutely needs to be warmup/warmdown lanes. If that narrows the list down to a handful of sites that meet the requirements, so be it.
I was just wondering as a participant in the AAA state competion why were swimming at a SCM pool with NO warm down or warmup facilites It doesnt allow us to go our best times espicially if some of us had early warmups. Sorry if I sound like a baby i was just intrested why we keep going back to that pool even thought there are many other capable pools.
Thanks alot
SWIM KID
loudouner said “VHSL says that site requirements for swimming are still “under development.” It sounds like the swim facilities could have been a lot better. Mid-Town in Newport News is a great pool. William and Mary has an awesome pool too. The diving pool was not great either. The boards were really weird and it affected the divers too.
I agree with “loudoner.” If you do anything other than what he/she suggests, the decision on where to hold the state meet becomes to subjective and too political.
Not sure if this has been mentioned elsewhere in the thread, but while in Va Beach last weekend, one of the coaches offered this explanation on why the AAA meet is held in the Tidewater area every three or four years. The community center pools in that area were all built in the 1980s with SCM pools. (Remember that, at the time, we were told that everybody would be moving to metric measurements.)
As a consequence, all of the high schools swim their dual meets at SCM pools. This coach did not say so explicitly, but he inferred that VHSL puts the state meet in the Tidewater every three or four years to be fair to the Tidewater high schools who swim all of their meets in meter pools.
Actually, 2 of the last 4 AAA state meets have been held in SCM pools at inadequate facilities in the Tidewater area. In 2007, the Northwest region could not find a school willing to host the meet. There was talk of finding a host school from the Northern region but, as I recall, no school from the Northern region stepped up. Late in the season, VHSL decided to move the meet to Virginia Beach.