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Don't Call it a Comeback: Plano boys capture 9-5A swim title
By Matt Welch, mwelch@starlocalnews.com
ALLEN -- Last season, the Plano Senior boys swim team placed fifth at the District 7-5A Championships.
What a difference a year makes.
The Wildcats resumed a perch they're plenty accustomed to Friday after taking first overall from Rodenbaugh Natatorium at the 9-5A Championships -- the boys' first district title since 2009-10.
The Wildcats shifted gears roughly midway through the meet and took off after freshman Duncan Lee captured the 100-yard butterfly district title with a time of 52.08. The first-place finishes came in droves for Plano from that point, with junior Kyle Whieldon securing the top spot in the 100 freestyle (48.00), Lee taking first in the 100 backstroke (53.22), plus victories in the 200 (1:28.39) and 400 free relays (3:14.26).
Whieldon also added a top mark in the 200 free (1:44.23) to his afternoon.
"After going (to state) last year, I think that was a great experience for [Whieldon] and it's showed this year," Wiggins said.
As a team, the Wildcats procured 109 points to best a narrowly contested race between Allen (87.50), Plano West (87), Jesuit (86.5), Plano East (74), McKinney Boyd (56) and McKinney (49).
The girls competition had an increasingly familiar vibe to it, with the Lady Eagles repeating as district champs for the first time in program history.
"I think we're the only team outside of Plano to repeat since we've been in this district," said Brent Mitchell, Allen head coach. "I've always felt like the girls had this opportunity in the past and this is a great group on both sides. They've been able to keep intact the tradition we established last year."
The Allen girls cruised past the remainder of the field with 185 points, well ahead of West (99), East (86), Plano (80), McKinney (43) and Boyd (41).
The medals backed it up as well, with the Lady Eagles winning seven races Friday.
That included a sweep of all three relays, with top marks posted in the 200 medley (1:54.03), 200 free (1:41.65) and 400 free relays (3:42.67). Individually, junior Jennifer Brennecke took first in the 200 individual medley (2:12.16), while senior Madison Doty added first in the 50 free (25.05). Ditto for junior Emily Stambaugh in the 500 free (5:08.62) and freshman Sofie Underdahl in the 100 back (1:00.28).
Allen's boys were paced by sophomore Thomas Kim, who was named Boys Swimmer of the Meet. Kim justified that honor with top finishes in the 200 IM (1:56.07) and 100 breakstroke (58.19). The Eagles also received a first-place swim in the 200 medley relay (1:39.71).
"This is really cool," Kim said. "I've never been named the top swimmer of this meet before. I'm just trying to help my team and be the best swimmer I can be."
McKinney junior Sammie Hashbarger earned Girls Swimmer of the Meet honors, doing so by placing first in the 200 free (1:54.93) and 100 free (52.79).
Other top finishes at the meet included West senior Brian Waggoner in the 50 free (22.03), Plano senior Carson Kruder in the 100 fly (58.28), Boyd junior Homero Cantu in the 500 free (4:45.06) and East junior Aislin Rose in the 100 breaststroke (1:08.51).
The winners, plus the top six individual finishers and top six relays, will be on hand Feb. 8-9 from Keller Natatorium for the Region II-5A Swimming and Diving Championships.
"I think a lot of our district will carry over at regionals," Mitchell said. "This is a very fast district and I think these same swimmers will see each other again very soon.
For continued news and coverage on the local sports scene, follow @MWelchSCN on Twitter.
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