FWB boys, Niceville girls claim county swim crowns (SLIDESHOW)

DESTIN – When asked how many consecutive county swim titles her boys’ team had won, Fort Walton Beach coach Pam Braseth simply tilted the trophy back and counted with her index finger. Her response of “every year since ‘04” was followed with a smile of satisfaction.

View a slideshow from the meet »

The Vikings’ boys’ team scored 186 points to earn their seventh-consecutive Okaloosa County title and hold off second place Niceville, who finished with 166 points.

“They lift each other up as a team, they raise each other higher,” Braseth said. “That’s what has caused the success all these years is them making it a team sport.

“It’s a nice (way to) roll into championship season that starts next Friday.”

Fort Walton Beach showed solid depth across the board, but got some great individual performances from Levi Wilke, who won the 200 yard individual medley (2:11.34) and the 500 yard freestyle (5:13.70). Michael Holland also took first in the 100 yard butterfly in a time of 58.50 and finished second in the 200 yard freestyle in 1:56.09.

The Niceville girls put up a solid performance as well, capturing their second county title in as many years by outscoring second place Choctawhatchee 173-152. Fort Walton Beach came in a close third with 140 points.

“I’m really happy, they continue to progress and come together,” Niceville coach Kathy Ritacco said. “We have a smaller team than I wanted, but they’ve done an amazing effort all through the season, so I’m really happy with them.”

Rachel Gold won the 100 and 50 yard freestyles for Niceville in times of 55.45 and 26.02, respectively. Milbrey Parke added a first place finish in the 100 yard breaststroke in a time of 1:11.56.

Choctawhatchee’s girls were led by the Strom sisters once again. Olivia Strom took first in the 200 yard freestyle (1:59.50) and 500 yard freestyle (5:19.75). Amelia Strom placed first in the 100 yard individual medley (2:18.04) and Emma Strom placed first in the 100 butterfly (1:03.69) and the 100 yard backstroke (1:02.56).

“The Strom girls, they won,” Choctaw coach Jamie Garea said. “For a while we were on a winning streak there, then we kind of lost that for a bit.”

Niceville’s boys were led by Chase Turner’s first place finish in the 100 backstroke (1:01.56) and Matt Markwardt’s 100 yard breaststroke (1:04.77) title. The Eagles had a slew of other top three finishers.

Rocky Bayou Christian’s boys and girls each finished in fourth with 37 and 29 points, respectively. The Knights top finisher was Suzi Sober, who placed third in the 100 yard freestyle with a time of 1:00.07.

Boys

Team scores: 1. Fort Walton Beach 173, 2. Niceville 166, 3. Choctawhatchee 120, 4. Rocky Bayou Christian 37.

Top 3 Finishers: 200 medley relay: 1. FWB A 1:48.66, 2. Niceville B 1:50.51, 3. Niceville A 2:00.54. 200 free: 1. Justin Lewis (C) 1:55.76, 2. Michael Holland (FWB) 1:56.09, 3. Chase Turner (N) 1:59.45. 200 IM: 1. Levi Wilke (FWB) 2:11.34, 2. Chaz Brechler (N) 2:11.92, 3. Frank Bruechner (F) 2:12.21. 50 free: 1. Cody Haeusler (FWB) 23.36, 2. Zachary Duval (FWB) 23.41, 3. Taylor Brown (N) 24.64. 100 butterfly: 1. Michael Holland (FWB) 58.50, 2. Aden Mackenzie (N) 59.89, 3. Bryce Munz (C) 1:02.12. 100 free: 1. Cody Haeusler (FWB) 51.54, 2. Nicholas Miller (FWB) 51.66, 3. Justin Lewis (C) 52.41. 500 free: 1. Levi Wilke (FWB) 5:13.70, 2. Chaz Brechler (N) 5:15.76, 3. Cody McWilliams (N) 5:31.88. 200 free relay: 1. FWB A 1:35.40, 2. Niceville (A) 1:37.98, 3. Choctaw A 1:39.61. 100 backstroke: 1. Chase Turner (N) 1:01.56, 2. Nicholas Miller (FWB) 1:02.95, 3. Bradley Ringler (N) 1:04.35. 100 breaststroke: 1. Matt Markwardt (N) 1:04.77, 2. Frank Bruechner (FWB) 1:06.18, 3. Justin Hunt (FWB) 1:07.07. 400 free relay: 1. FWB A 3:33.79, 2. Niceville A 3:35.97, 3. Choctaw A 3:40.47.

Girls

Team scores: 1. Niceville 173, 2. Choctawhatchee 152, 3. Fort Walton Beach 140, Rocky Bayou Christian 29.

Top 3 Finishers: 200 medley relay: 1. Choctaw A 2:00.38, 2. Niceville A 2:00.64, 3. Fort Walton Beach A 2:07.29. 200 free: 1.Olivia Strom (C) 1:59.50, 2. Haley McWilliams (N) 2:02.88, 3. Alex Messmore (N) 2:09.23. 200 IM: 1. Amelia Strom (C) 2:18.04, 2. Alexa Birmingham (N) 2:25.09, 3. Olivia Johnson (FWB) 2:35.67. 50 free: 1.Rachel Gold (N) 26.02, 2. Brooke Arrington (FWB) 26.15, 3. Jaide Lewis (C) 26.79. 100 butterfly: 1.Emma Strom (C) 1:03.69, 2. Milbrey Parke (N) 1:03.85, 3. Alexa Birmingham (N) 1:05.48. 100 free: 1. Rachel Gold (N) 55.45, 2. Katherin Stone (FWB) 1:00.01, 3. Suzi Sober (RBC) 1:00.07. 500 free: 1. Olivia Strom (C) 5:19.75, 2. Haley McWilliams (N) 5:20.67, 3. Emma Gladstone (FWB) 5:51.50. 200 free relay: 1. Choctaw A 1:46.22, 2. FWB A 1:48.44, Niceville A 1:49.83.100 backstroke: 1.Emma Strom (C) 1:02.56, 2. Phoebe Anders (N) 1:09.54, 3. Samantha Shaw (C) 1:11.86. 100 breaststroke: 1. Milbrey Parke (N) 1:11.56, 2. Amelia Strom (C) 1:12.05, 3. Olivia Johnson 1:15.26. 400 free relay: 1. Niceville A 3:55.62, 2. Choctaw A 3:57.09, 3. FWB A 4:07.28.