Parity has been the name of the game in boys swimming of late, at least compared to the girls’ classifications—which have featured their fair share of dynasties. While there are some traditional boys’ powerhouses, recent state championships have been relatively spread out across metro Atlanta. Parkview captured four consecutive Class AAAAA state titles from 2000 to 2003, Collins Hill won two in a row in 2004 and 2005, then Parkview added two more in succession in 2006 and 2007. Only three schools earned state titles at the highest classification in that eight-year span, but three have also won it all in a current four-year stretch. Brookwood wrapped up a three-year streak in 2010 before Peachtree Ridge triumphed in 2011 and Parkview returned to the forefront in 2012 and 2013 (the latter of which came in the newly-formed Class AAAAAA).
SUCCESS LIVES HERE …
Last month’s Gwinnett County Swimming and Diving Championships may have offered a sneak preview of the Class AAAAAA state meet. Collins Hill got the job done for its first county title since 2005 as it edged Parkview 1,018 points to 861 points. North Gwinnett fin-ished a somewhat distant third, while Norcross and Brookwood rounded out the top five.
“(County titles) are never expected, but the other ones we were a little more top-heavy,” Collins Hill head coach Jenny Weaver told the Gwinnett Daily Post, referring to back-to-back Gwinnett triumphs in 2005 and 2005. “We had to get four into the 500 free (finals) and four into the breaststroke. Those were big game-changers for us. We knew the meet was going to be close. It was a battle the whole time. It’s been a while. It feels pretty good to win it again.”
The Eagles are led by junior Cody Bekemeyer, who set county records in both the 200 and 500 freestyle. They boasted another individual Gwinnett champion in Jon Atnip, who touched the wall first in the 50 freestyle. Parkview had won 19 of the last 22 county titles and every one of the last four before losing a whole host of seniors to graduation in 2013. Still, the Panthers always reload as opposed to having to rebuild. Among their standouts is Bradley Downs, who was runner-up in the county meet in the 200 freestyle and third in the 100 butterfly. Also watch out for Chattahoochee, which finished second behind Parkview by a mere eight points at the 2013 state championship. The Cougars are anchored by the University of Georgia-bound Litherland triplets—Jay, Kevin and Mick.
PRIVATE PARITY …
In the combined smaller classes (previously A-AAAA and now A-AAAAA), five different schools have prevailed in the past six years. Westminster seized six straight titles from 2003 and 2008 and is looking poised to get back in the winner’s circle. Marist won in 2009, Greater Atlanta Christian triumphed in 2010 and Wesleyan went back-to-back in 2011 and 2012 before Dalton captured last season’s title. pool at last month’s 44th Metro Swimming and Diving Championships. The host Wildcats finished runner-up to Class AAAAAA Alpharetta by one-half of one point, but perhaps more importantly they were more than 35 points ahead of third-place Marist.
Westminster relies heavily on sophomore twins Derek and Erek Cox. They teamed up to help win the 200 medley relay and place second in the 400 freestyle relay at the metro meet. Derek is expected to be a major player in the 200 individual medley and 500 freestyle at state. Wildcats senior Gabriel Bellott-McGrath is a key relay piece and also the reigning metro champion in the 200 freestyle. Marist is paced by sophomore Christian Lorys, who won the 100 butterfly at the metro championships and finished third in the 100 backstroke. Dalton positioned itself nicely for a run at another state title by winning the North Geor-gia Regionals last month. The Catamounts (198 points) were tested by both runner-up Holy Innocents’ (180 points) and third-place Rome (142 points). They are led by Ethan Young, who set regional records in the 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly. Dalton’s Taylor Mathis won the 50 freestyle and the 100 backstroke.
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