Shorter season makes waves for swim teams
By JARED MACARIN
jaredm@nwfdailynews.com
Swimming coaches and athletes will have less time this year to get into championship form.
The season, in connection with the changing of the school calendar, has been knocked down one week, putting pressure on teams to reach their peak performances in a shorter time.
Choctawhatchee, Navarre, Fort Walton Beach and Niceville open the season today with a short pentathlon meet and will strive over the next 11 weeks to achieve their top form at the state championships in November.
“It’s really going to test our kids’ attitudes and how much they can handle pressure,” Niceville coach Dan Kaster said.
Teams began practice two weeks ago and were able to take advantage of the athletes not being in school. It enabled each coach to schedule longer practices and work a lot on conditioning to try to overcome lost time. Fort Walton Beach coach Pam Braseth said the Vikings were able to get a lot done in that time.
“Two weeks without school allowed us to train longer, so the kids got good conditioning,” she said.
In spite of the shortened preseason, each coach is not making excuses about the road ahead. They know it will be tough and that their athletes must focus quickly in order to be in the right shape for the final month of championship meets.
There is plenty of talent in the area.
The Vikings return a lot from last season’s teams. Leading the way on the boys side are James and Josh Simmons, Blake Gladstone and Matt Schade. On the girls’ side, Elvira Chiccarelli and Logan Griffith, along with Jill Jacobson and Jessica Gladstone, are among the key returners.
“We have greater depth this year and definitely more versatility than last year (on the boys’ side),” Braseth said. “Our biggest trouble is getting out of the region in girls. It’s very tough. That is our goal to step it up and be better in regionals and make it into the state meet. We’ve got real strong teams on both sides.”
Niceville is a lot younger than years past and much smaller in terms of athletes. But what the Eagles do have is talent. On the boys’ side, Ross Spock returns to lead the way along with Travis Thornton and Ross Roberts. On the girls’ side, Emily Voigt, Shelby Baumgartner and Lindy Peek all have been to the state meet.
Kaster is looking to his older, more experienced swimmers to take charge and help the youthful group age quickly.
“We are smaller than we’ve ever been,” he said. “I’m proud of what they are doing right now. They realize they are small and have an uphill battle.”
Choctawhatchee also welcomes back a strong group on both sides. For the girls, Kendall Carter and Cheryl Corvo both have been to state and are expected to provide plenty of points throughout the season. The boys are led by Eric Dziokonski, who also went to state last year.
Coach Jamie Garea is hoping a strong freshmen group, led by Alex Strom, helps the boys reload after losing numerous quality swimmers.
“Most of our strongest girls are coming back and they have been swimming through the summer and dedicated themselves,” Garea said. “We’re just looking for an improved girls’ team and the boys to rebuild themselves to the level of the boys we lost.
“I’m excited to see how their work pays off for them.”
Navarre’s Christine Parsons and Courtney Keiffer are back to lead the Raiders’ girls, while Tanner Getzug and Joe Chrisco will be the leaders for the boys. Parsons and Keiffer both went to state last year, while Getzug and Chrisco participated at regionals.
Team capsules
Choctawhatchee
Coach: Jamie Garea.
District: 1-2A.
District opponents: Fort Walton Beach, Navarre, Bay, Gulf Breeze, Escambia, Milton, Mosley, Pace, Pensacola, Pine Forest, Rutherford, Tate, Washington.
Returning boys: Eric Dziokonski, Nick Hunt, Kyle Davis, Richie Floyd, Ryan Adam, Christian Johnston.
Returning girls: Cheryl Corvo, Kendall Carter, Kristine StOnge, Chelsea Clemmons, Chelsea Arsenault, Leigha Costello, Marilyn Anderson, Megan Whitehurst, Stephanie Bell, Erika McCollor, Jessica Shaw, Lauren Mecke.
Others to watch: Boys: Josh Fenton, Alex Strom, Michael Whitehurst, Patrick Whitehurst.
Athletes lost: Cory Hill, Nick Reese, Stephanie Lenyo, Ryan Hidalgo, Danielle Aho.
Fort Walton Beach
Coach: Pam Braseth
District: 1-2A.
District opponents: Choctawhatchee, Navarre, Bay, Gulf Breeze, Escambia, Milton, Mosley, Pace, Pensacola, Pine Forest, Rutherford, Tate Washington.
Returning boys: Blake Gladstone, Craig Wilson, Don Imfeld, Jake Morrison, James Simmons, Matt Schade, Robert Barkley, Matt Bevil, Peter Braseth, Cody Conant, Daniel Craig, Josh Simmons, David Stevens, Garret Tippets.
Returning girls: Elvira Chiccarelli, Jami Morgan, Jessica Gladstone, Logan Griffith, Jill Jacobson, Jennifer Sorensen, Tina Bennett, Chantel Betts, Lacy Cassidy, Jamie Gantert, Chelsi Lomax, Morgan McLaughlin, Carolyn Pancake, Savannah Tyree, Linsi Ver Steeg.
Others to watch: Girls: Irene Rosa, Paige Regelman, Erin Hunt; Boys: Josh Williams, Cameron Cain, Ian MacKenzie, Michael Braseth.
Athletes lost: David Shackelford, James Hazelwood, Carly Gantert, Brogan Nehls.
Navarre
Coach: Michele Inkel.
District: 1-2A.
District opponents: Fort Walton Beach, Choctawhatchee, Bay, Gulf Breeze, Escambia, Milton, Mosley, Pace, Pensacola, Pine Forest, Rutherford, Tate Washington.
Returning boys: Tanner Getzug, David Bressler, Lucas Crawford, Andrew Phillips, Riley Tilghman, Joe Chrisco.
Returning girls: Christine Parsons, Courtney Keiffer, Jennifer Barbee, Kelsey Berschger, Ashley Brasfield, Stephanie Carpenter, Jearim Craig, Justine Gudmundson, Kelsey Jennings, Jacaylenn Karsten, Traci Miller, Taylor Moorer, Antje Neal, Kristen Palmertree, Mariah Palpallatoc, Mary Raymond, Madeline Slaughter, Sara Stoll, Amanda Travis, Amber Traynoe, Rebecca Walker, Jillian Mankoff.
Others to watch: Girls: Savannah Schuler; Boys: Tyler Barker, Thomas Batter.
Athletes lost: Katy Brainerd, Micaela Black, Joel Rodriguez, April Hamilton, Patrick Schnell.
Niceville
Coach: Dan Kaster.
District: 1-3A.
District opponents: Bartram Trail, Buchholz, DeLand, Deltona, Flagler Palm Coast, Fleming Island, Fletcher, Gainesville, Mandarin, Orange Park, Pine Ridge, Sandalwood, Spruce Creek.
Returning boys: Travis Thornton, Ross Roberts, Ross Spock, J.J. Ott, Ryan DeCarlis.
Returning girls: Emily Voigt, Lindy Peek, Erica Pranke, Shelby Baumgartner, Lyndsay LeBeau, Michelle Sinicrope.
Others to watch: Girls: Devon Caulkins, Andrea Duty, Alexis Elliott, Jessie Barth, Catie Carden; Boys: Jordan Carhuff, Andy Birmingham, Dallas Montgomery.
Athletes lost: Keela Baumgartner, Mandy Moriarty, Kate Wohleber, Andrea Byrne, Sarah Gregory; Ned Nilsson, Sal Sinicrope.
