Mike Ridaught
Buchholz High School swept the boys and girls swimming championships at the Rob Ramirez city championship meet Saturday at the Dwight H. Hunter Northeast pool.
The Bobcats, who are coached by former Gainesville High School assistant John Hulvey, were able to use their depth to win both meets.
The Buchholz girls (510 points) finished ahead of GHS (460) and defending city champion P.K. Yonge (417).
The Lady Bobcats did place first in the 200-yard freestyle relay.
Overall, P.K. Yonge coach Kara Dawson was happy with her team’s performance.
“Our team doesn’t have any divers which hurt us in the final standings, but I am pleased with how the girls swam,” Dawson said. “Lillie Nesty (50 free and 100 free) and Gwen Shahboz (500 free and 100 breast) were double champions. They also teamed up with Tara McGovern, Laci Herron, Abbie Mcgovern and Talia Herron to win two of the three relays.”
Dawson noted that all of them swim year-round and have excellent chances to swim all the way to states this year and place well individually, in relays and as a team.
“The girls’ team is also strong from top to bottom,” Dawson said.
The Buchholz boys beat P.K. Yonge and Gainesville with a score of 436. PKY (358) finished second ahead of GHS (327).
Bobcats’ senior Alex Bungert won the 50-yard free and senior Brayden Taivassalo finished first in the 100-yard breast.
The Hurricanes had the only individual double winner in Aiden Fuller, who won the 500-yard freestyle and the 200-yard freestyle.
The P.K. Yonge boys had won the previous two titles.
“Overall, I was pleased with our performance at the City meet,” Dawson said. “We have really fast guys who swim year-round like Joseph Pyon (1st 200 IM, 2nd 100 breast), Lex Fetko (1st 100 free; 3rd 500 free), Brandon Jeong (2nd 100 fly; 3rd 100 back) and Benjamin Wolking (2nd 200 free). These guys also won two of the three relays.”
Dawson noted that the Blue Wave lost over one third of their points from last year due to graduation.
“These were fast, depth guys who really racked up points for us and contributed a lot on the leadership side of things,” Dawson said. “While we don’t have as much depth this year, we have swimmers who are getting faster each week and placed well on Saturday.”