Academy and Jesuit captured their best combinations of talented swimmers and hard training to capture the Class 2-A, Region 3 crown at Northside Pool in St. Petersburg on Saturday evening, November 5.  Academy was the hands-down winner of girls competition with a team score of 466, 119.5 points ahead of second-place Osceola.

Two Jaguar relays captured first place, with the girls 200 free relay time (1:40.92) finishing just one second slower their first-place performance last year at States (1:39.25).  Clare Fleming won the 50 free (24.56 seconds),  and Margret Shumake won the 100 breaststroke (1:08.63) to bring home individual titles for the team. In addition, Shumake, who celebrated her sixteenth birthday that day, broke the school record in the 100 breastroke, formerly held by Michelle Gorecki, while Fleming set a new school mark in the 100 freestyle in a quick 53.63 seconds.

Tampa Bay Online  reported that Coach Bill Shaffer said, “‘Everybody qualified (for state) who was supposed to qualify. Everything went about as well as could be expected.'”

TBO predicted, ” With some tapering and shaving the next week, Academy could drop that time significantly. Academy’s 400 free relay, meanwhile, won Saturday in 3:39.50, which makes it a possibility to win at state as well.”

Both Jesuit and Academy teams will compete this Saturday, November 12, in Orlando.

For more details of Regional competition, click on Bright House Sports.