Saints swimmers show early strength
Published 9:34 pm Friday, December 12, 2014
Nansemond-Suffolk Academy’s swimming team logged more wins than losses in its second meet of the season on Thursday afternoon as it hosted Greenbrier Christian Academy, Norfolk Christian School and Peninsula Catholic High School at YMCA Camp Arrowhead.
The NSA girls’ team defeated Greenbrier Christian 111-30 and Peninsula Catholic 92-73, while falling to Norfolk Christian 85-72.
The NSA boys’ team defeated Greenbrier 79-61 and Peninsula Catholic 93-28, while falling to Norfolk 91-54.
Nansemond-Suffolk assistant coach Kim Wagner felt good about the home team’s performance.
“I thought we did well,” she said. “I thought a lot of kids had personal best times. The races, especially against Norfolk Christian, some of those were really very exciting because they were very tight, and we like to have races like that because it pushes both sides, it pushes all the kids.”
Standouts on the day for NSA’s girls included senior Taylor Berard and freshman Madi Wilson.
Berard won the girls’ 50-yard freestyle with a time of 28.10 seconds, and Wilson came in second with a time of 29.06 seconds.
“The girls’ 200 free relay did well, too,” Wagner said.
Both Berard and Wilson were a part of the 200-yard freestyle relay team, which placed first with a time of 1:56.99, comfortably ahead of the second place team from Norfolk Christian that finished with a time of 2:11.45.
Freshmen Tori Psimas and Anna Grace Towler were the other members of the relay team for Nansemond-Suffolk.
“Madi also got first in the 500 free, and I think she dropped eight or nine seconds from the last time that she swam,” Wagner said.
Wilson’s time of 6:26.41 in the girls’ 500-yard freestyle was a new personal best for her career.
“It helps when you have a little bit of competition,” Wagner said.
Wilson had close company from Norfolk Christian junior Crista Walzak, who finished second with a 6:27.92 time.
Junior David Forman was the standout for the Nansemond-Suffolk boys’ team, finishing second in the boys’ 500 free with a time of 5:38.79.
“It wasn’t his best time, but he is the top boys’ swimmer on the team,” Wagner said. “He did a good job.”
Nansemond-Suffolk’s boys and girls teams each hold records of 3-2 after their initial competitions of the 2014-15 season.
It will be some time before they compete again, though. Their next event on the schedule comes on Jan. 16, which will be Senior Day for the Saints.
Though a long layoff like this can be bad in some athletic endeavors, Wagner indicated NSA’s coaches and swimmers see it the opposite way in this case.
“It is a long time,” she said. “But we consider that a good thing, so we can get into even better shape.”
On Jan. 16, Nansemond-Suffolk will host Bishop Sullivan Catholic High School, Norfolk Collegiate School and Walsingham Academy at YMCA Camp Arrowhead.