Contributed by Cos DiFazio
The Virginia High School League championship meet is a trials and finals format that was held at the Collegiate Aquatic Center in Richmond. Coach Stacey Fuller explained that swimming in this type of state championship meet involves swimming in the morning trials to earn a spot in the top 16 swimmers for each race in order to swim again in the evening to determine your final place. She added, “this makes for a very long and challenging day and all the swimmers were amazing!”
Coach Mike DiFazio said, “It was a very fun year! The swimmers worked so hard and learned so much. I am glad we were able to take so many athletes to states this season. Almost every race we swam ended up coming back for finals later that night and scoring for the team. That is incredible and I am so proud of these athletes!”
Leading the way for the Flucos was Freshman Alexandra Fuller who finished 2nd in the 100 free and 3rd in the 50 free. Senior diver John Layne contributed a second-place finish in the boys 1 meter diving competition. A very strong group of Fluco seniors consisting of Ahmad Woodson, Gus Jones, Anthony Caruso and Jacob Ondek along with junior Jackson Kinsella combined to score on all three boys relays to finish 6th overall as a team at the state championship. They finished 9th in the 200 medley and 400 free relays and 11th in 200 free relay.
Individually Jacob Ondek finished 4th in 1 meter diving event while Ahmad Woodson added a 4th place finish in the 500 free and 7th in the 200 free. Gus Jones contributed a 7th place in the 100 fly and 9th in 100 breast while Anthony Caruso added a 14th in the 200 IM.
The girls 200 medley relay, consisting of Vaile Altherr, Ally Lounsbury, Alexandra Fuller, and Anne Charlotte Robinson, finished 8th. Sarah Beth Robinson finished 7th in the girls 1 meter diving event while Vaile Altherr swam her way to a 15th place finish in the 100 back.
Coach Pace stated, “I am proud of this team! From you swimming and diving rockstars, to my dedicated coaches, to my supportive parents… I’m extremely proud to call myself your head coach! All of you worked so hard this season and we had lots of successes (in the pool and out). I’m sad to see so many of you seniors moving on, but I can’t wait to see and hear about the next step in your lives. What a great group of young men and women! And I’m very excited about the Fluco swim and dive future!”
