Boys Win County Swimming Title as Lakeside Progresses to State

goes into the upcoming state swimming and diving championships with mixed hopes following last Saturday's showing in the county event at Dynamo Swim Center. 

After 14-straight county titles for its girls team, Lakeside's magnificent run finally came to end as Dunwoody won the last relay event, guaranteeing a new name on the trophy for the first time since 1997. Two Lady Vikings still managed qualifying times for state, but, realistically, chances of picking up more silverware this season rest with the boys, who won a eigth-straight county title while sending eight individual qualifiers and three relay teams to next weekend's event at Georgia Tech.

"I'll be looking for my boys to at least place [in the top three for relay]," said Lakeside coach Tricia Newmyer. "We don't quite have the stallion [to win state], but in the relays we can beat two or three [of the state's top competitors]."  

Senior Jack Lane, a two-time state champion, leads the Vikings field having qualified for three individual postseason events – the 50 freestyle, 100 freestyle and 200 freestyle. Having missed out on last year's state competition, Lane hopes to end his high school career on a high.

"He's been such a great kid and team promoter," said Newmyer.

Competition, however, will be stiff, with powerhouse Marist among the private schools dominating the sport. Lane heads into next weekend on the back of winning the 200-yard individual medley (1:54.61) and the 100-yard butterfly (52.35), while helping Lakeside place first in the 200-yard medley relay. 

Also claiming the 400-yard freestyle relay title, the Vikings broke a 20-year county record with a time of 3:19.45. 

Cesar Acosta and Jason Arne, members of the relay team, were also individual events winners, as Lakeside set an overall team score of 427 points.

In girls events, Dunwoody's 2.86 seconds margin of victory in the 400 relay edged Lakeside 398 to 386 in total team points. Lakeside had trailed by six points going into the final event and, had it won, would have tied the overall score, thereby retaining the title. 

Among notable standouts were Rebecca Boyer, placing first in one-meter diving, and Margaret Bruxton, who took the 500-yard freestyle title.