Suffolk News-Herald

If Brandon Wilder had his way, he’d probably swim against Greenbrier Christian (GC) in every match of the season. After setting a school record in the 200 individual medley last year against the Gators, the Nansemond-Suffolk Academy (NSA) sophomore hurtled through the 500-freestyle on Friday in 4:41.70, over two seconds faster than Justin Pyle’s old record of 4:44.28, in his team’s 58-37 win over GC at the Suffolk YMCA. Wilder won first in every race in which he competed in both the GC match and a 57-30 defeat of Norfolk Collegiate (NC).

The Lady Saints also ran the pool, defeating GC 84-8 and NC 62-33. NSA’s ladies took first and second in every race in the GC win.

Wilder, Joey DiRenzo, Ryan Hanson and Philip Brooks started things by winning first place in the 200-medley relay. Hanson roared through the 200-freestyle, and Brooks got first against GC and second against NC in the 200 medley. Aaron Schaubach finished second in the 50-free in both matches, and Wilder took both 100-flys. Hanson then got first against NC and second against GC in 100-freestyle, and Wilder’s record-setter came next.

Hanson, DiRenzo, Brooks and Wilder bolted through the 200-free relay, and Brooks and Sean Tennant got first and second in 100-backstroke. DiRenzo won the 100-breastroke, and Jeff Iiams took second in the GC meet. Tennant, Schaubach, Kyle Minga and Ben Woodyard finished out the meet by sweeping the 400-free relay.

Danielle Waller, Anna Cotton, Maggie Standing and Tiffany Buckley kicked off the girls meet in the same fashion as their male counterparts, winning the 200-medley relay. Jade Bishop, Kristin MacKinnon, Tess Smith and Amber Mosal got second.

Kelly Ruland won the 200-freestyle, and Smith got second. Standing and Cotton got first and second in the 200-medley (second and third against NC), and Bishop and Waller followed suit in the 500-freestyle.

Ruland and Morgan Thorndike got second and third against NC in the 100-fly, and Smith and Standing did so in 100-free. Jamie Iiams and Amallie Zahralddin were second and third in 400-freestyle action, and Waller, Buckley, Ruland and Standing got second in the 200-free relay, with Cotton, Thorndike, Mosal and Courtney Johnson third.

Bishop snared the top spot in both 100-back races and Cotton and MacKinnon took the first spots in 100-breastroke. Bishop, Waller, Ruland and Smith won the 400-free relay, and Buckley, Thorndike, Johnson and Mosal took second.

The Saints have their last home meet of the year on Thursday afternoon against Cape Henry, St. Benedictine and St. Gertrude’s.