The Nansemond River swim teams have finished their regular season and are preparing for the upcoming Southeastern District championships.

NR head coach Shamus Riley gave special note to the performances of a couple of his boys last Saturday against Lakeland.

“Andrey Lonshakov, a Russian foreign exchange student transfer from Norcom High School, won the 50 Freestyle on Saturday vs. Lakeland High School,” he wrote in an e-mail. “Andrey set the top 50 Freestyle time for NR boys on the season.”

Riley later realized that Lonshakov had actually broken the school record in the 50-meter freestyle with a time of 27.52 seconds. Riley expects him to be one of his swimmers to watch at districts.

The Lakeland meet featured the long-awaited return of Michael Betts, Nansemond River’s only returning individual regional qualifier from last year.

“He participated in his first swim meet on the season following a early-season back injury,” Riley stated. “Betts finished second in the 100 breaststroke, and third in the 50 freestyle.”

Betts is a strong enough swimmer that Riley thinks he could make his presence known at the district tourney.

At least two other swimmers expected to do well at districts are freshman Logan Eubanks and sophomore Cody Edwards.

Eubanks has been setting a new school record in the 100-meter butterfly almost every week in the latter part of the season, and is anticipating the chance to race for first in the SED.

“I kind of feel excited, ready for the challenge,” he said.

He also thinks he may be a threat in two other events, including the 100-meter freestyle.

“I know I’m pretty close to beating a couple of other people in backstroke,” he said.

Edwards refrained from describing himself as nervous about the district competition.

“I’m just more excited than anything,” he said. “I never thought as a sophomore I would get this much of a chance to be able to go on to regionals after districts.”

He could make waves in the 400-meter freestyle, despite having only recently been placed in the event by Riley.

“He actually just put me in it to see what I would do, and then he’s like, ‘You’re really good at this,’” Edwards said.

Riley felt positively about the regular season overall.

“Nansemond River’s boys’ team finished the regular season with a 4-4 record, matching the most wins in a season by a Suffolk Public Schools swim team,” he stated.

And his praise was not limited to the boys’ team.

“The girls team finished the season very strongly in their last three swim meets, topping personal best times in all three meets, and winning the last two meets,” he stated.

The girls’ team finished 2-6 for the regular season.

The district swim championships are scheduled for next Saturday at Hampton University.