(Enlarge) Sisters Cara Fisher (front), who is 17, and Catie, 18, splash the lanes in the 50-meter backstroke as the West Laurel Wahoos host a season-opening meet in the Prince-Mont Swim League. Laurel has five teams competing this year. (Photo by Kitty R. Charlton)

The Division A West Laurel swim team got standout performances from Matt Stevens and Billy Rosenberg but lost, 311-259, to the MVP Dolphins at home June 20 in the first meet of the season in the Prince-Mont Swim League. The meet was delayed twice for a total of nearly two hours and finished around 1:15 p.m., according to new head coach Kris Santos.

Stevens (15-18 boys in fly, frees and IM) and Rosenberg (9-10 boys butterfly, frees and back) were both triple winners. The double winners for West Laurel were Caitlin Raynor (15-18 in butterfly and back), Jessica Sweitzer (15-18 in free and IM) and Kira Myers (9-10 in free and back). Stevens is a graduate of Blake High in Montgomery County and plans to swim at Bucknell as a college freshman.

"It was a little crazy with the thunder that kept interrupting the meet," said Santos, a graduate of Eleanor Roosevelt and a former swimmer at Montpelier. "We were fortunate to get it in."

MVP was the division champion last year and Santos was pleased his team was competitive against the Dolphins. "We had a lot of new personal bests," he said. "I am really proud of the kids."

In a battle of Division D Sharks, Russett of Anne Arundel County prevailed, 290-274, on the road as four swimmers were triple winners: Allie Ritter (U-8 free, breast, back), Everett Butler (boys 11-12 fly, free, back), Taylor Hicks (girls 13-14 fly, free, IM) and Michaela Guild (girls 15-18 free, breast, IM). Double winners for Russett were Lauren Ritter (girls 9-10 fly, back), Chris Marx (boys 9-10 free, back), and Meische Cox (girls 15-18 fly, back).

Host West Arundel, in Division C, beat Marlton, 299-263, as the Aqua Ducks swept all four events in the 9-10 boys and 9-10 girls and all five events in the 13-14 age group.

Triple winners for West Arundel were Jay Venit (9-10 butterfly, breast and back), Colette Pierce (9-10 free, breast and back), Andrea Sturgis (11-12 butterfly, free and IM) and Kellianne Venit (13-14 breast, back and IM).

Double winners for West Arundel were Ryan Webb (11-12 butterfly and back), Micah Norsworthy (U-8 free and back), Danielle Villeneuve (13-14 butterfly and free), Billy Rodgers (15-18 butterfly and IM), Andria Moyer (15-18 butterfly and free) and Sarah McCray (15-18 back and IM).

In Division B, Whitehall beat Montpelier, 289-275, in the first meet for Montpelier head coach Manga Dalizu, who spent 16 years with Ashton in Montgomery County. He takes over for Matt Harris, a standout swimmer at Kenyon College in Ohio the past four years.

Laurel City was ahead of Accokeek, 116-88, at home June 20 in Division F when the meet was stopped due to storms, according to Laurel City coach Rachel Gracia. The meet may not be completed, she said June 24. Garcia was pleased to be leading in the first meet of the season. "I think we have a lot of new swimmers. They are learning a lot," said Gracia, now in her fifth season as Laurel City coach.

Note: Reports must be sent to the Laurel Leader by Monday at 9 a.m. with double and triple winners for Laurel teams and the score of the meet. Send to laurelsports@patuxent.com and dschwind@patuxent.com

PHOTO BY KITTY R. CHARLTON

Cara Fisher (front) and her sister, Catie (back), compete for the West Laurel Wahoos on June 20 in the girls 15-18 50-meter backstroke. Cara won her heat just before rain suspended the meet, which eventually finished as the MVP Dolphins downed West Laurel.

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