All-Area Swimming: Quinn Cassidy and Tasija Karosas tops in pool

Tuesday, January 08, 2013
by Matt Porter

BOYS SWIMMER OF THE YEAR

QUINN CASSIDY, ST. ANDREW'S SR.

Someone who knows Quinn Cassidy well - his father, Sid, who coaches him at St. Andrew's - says he responds well to "a little extra pressure."

A little? How about the pressure from his competitors at the Class 1A state finals in Orlando, who came together to produce maybe the fastest high school swim meet ever. At that November meet, five boys national records were set, all by swimmers from runaway state champion Jacksonville-Bolles.

Cassidy made his mark by winning the 200 individual medley in 1:49.64, an automatic All-American time and the fastest of anyone in the state regardless of class. He won another 1A gold medal in the 100 breast stroke (56.87), another automatic All-American time and fourth-best in the state.

He also swam the lead leg on two silver-medal, All-American relay teams: the 200 free, which finished in 1:26.17 (fourth all-class), and the 400 free, which went 3:06.21 (third all-class). Both relays finished behind national-record times from Bolles.

Boosted by Cassidy's efforts, St. Andrew's finished third at the meet.

Cassidy never shrank from the pressure. Never has, actually. Sid Cassidy, a former head swim coach at the University of Miami and assistant at Florida State, said his son "was swimming about the same time he could walk and was doing races at 4 or 5 years old."

Cassidy capped his standout senior season by committing to swim at the University of Florida.

"In a blaze of glory," his father said of his son's season. "I couldn't be happier."

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BOYS FIRST TEAM

Jason McCormick, Boca Raton, Sr.

Earned state gold in 50 free, AA time, less than four-tenths off state record. Gold in 100 free, gold in 200 free, 400 free relays.

Sam Corona, Boca Raton, Sr.

Earned silver in 50 free at 3A state, AA-C time. Won gold with 200 medley and 200 free relay teams.

Simon Adriano, Dwyer, So.

Placed fourth at Class 3A state in diving (422.60; season-best was 446.90) and won district and regional titles.

Gage Kohner, Boca Raton, Jr.

Bronze at 3A state in 100 free, fifth in 200 free. Swam on gold-medal 200 free, 400 free relays.

Shawn Warner, St. Andrew's, Sr.

Placed 10th at state in 100 fly, won three relay medals: 200, 400 free (silver) and 200 medley (bronze).

Nicholas Van Zee, Boca Raton, Sr.

Fifth at state in 50 free and 11th in 100 fly; swam on gold-medal 200 free, 400 free relays.

Kevin Matheus, Boca Raton, Sr.

Fifth at state in 100 breast and seventh in 100 fly. Helped 200 medley and 400 free relay win gold.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Eric Hill, Boca Raton

Led Boca Raton (12-0) to the first perfect season and first state championship in program history.

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BOYS SECOND TEAM

Steven Vergona, Boca Raton, Sr.

Luke Hayhoe, St. Andrew's, Jr.

Alejandro Vassallo, Boca Raton, Jr.

Nicholas Conrad, St. Andrew's, Soph.

William Pisani, Suncoast, Soph.

Robert O'Gorman, Grandview Prep, Sr.

Nolan Mallet, Dreyfoos, Soph.

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BOYS HONORABLE MENTION

J.R. Sims, Boca Raton, Sr.

Zach Moses, St. Andrew's, Soph.

Connor Tobin, Benjamin, Sr.

Alex Cronin, Jupiter, Fr.

Jacob Pavlock, Suncoast, Jr.

Shawn Zylberberg, Spanish River, Jr.

Adam Reiser, Spanish River, Sr.

Daniel Schneiderman, Spanish River, Sr.

Esteban Sarmiento, Jupiter, Jr.

Kamil Baska, Wellington, Sr.

Shawn Mowry, Boca Raton, Sr.

Richie Merrill, Boca Raton, Jr.

Parker Holloway, Dreyfoos, Sr.

Cody Cline, Wellington, Fr.

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BEST OF THE TREASURE COAST BOYS

Centennial: Randy Davies; Jensen Beach: Dewayne Oliver, Alexander Madden; Lincoln Park -- Demetri Demet, Ryan Boltersdorf, Aidas Kavaliauskas, Matthew Farris, Dalton Krencik, Ryan Martin; Martin County -- Daniel Hartley, Matthew Pazanski, Matthew McGinn; South Fork - Mike Inderlin, Luis Moreno, Jordan Chang, Emilio Rojo, Justin Torrens, Ben Wisehaupt. MVP: Daniel Hartley, Martin County.

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GIRLS SWIMMER OF THE YEAR

TASIJA KAROSAS, ST. ANDREW'S, SR.

With several blazing-fast underclassmen pushing her, Tasija Karosas had plenty of competition on her own team this season. And while the future looks bright for St. Andrew's swimming, Karosas' performance as a senior served notice she wasn't ready to give up the spotlight yet.

At the Class 1A state meet in Orlando, the Scots won silver. Karosas earned an individual gold medal, an individual bronze and two relay golds. Her shining moment was the 100 backstroke, in which she swam a state-record 53.62. She also set another state record as part of the Scots' 400 free relay team.

She unofficially held the 100 backstroke record for her entire senior year. Her best time (53.4), which she swam at last year's junior nationals, would have been good enough for the state record. She looked forward all year to making it official at state. "I was warming up and feeling really good," Karosas said. "I knew I could do it. Once I heard them saying everyone's name and heard the music pumping, I said 'I can do this.' "

In the 400 free relay, Karosas jumped in front on the lead leg. Behind her, junior Brenna Ruth and sophomores Rachael Bradford-Feldman and Megan Moroney finished in 3:23.43, a state-record, All-American time. It was just six-tenths of a second off the national record.

Karosas led the same crew into the pool in the Scots' 200 medley relay. She led, while Bradford-Feldman, Moroney and Ruth closed in 1:42.77, the best time in the state regardless of class and automatically good for All-American honors.

Karosas also earned state bronze in the 200 IM with a 2:01.38, the third-best time in the state regardless of class. Bradford-Feldman won gold with an all-class-best 2:00.40, reminding opponents that St. Andrew's isn't going away anytime soon.

As for Karosas, she'll swim for the University of Texas next season. "I think as a team, it was our best season yet," she said. "It was incredible."

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FIRST TEAM

Megan Moroney, St. Andrew's, Soph.

Three gold medals at 1A state, with three All-American times and a 100 fly seven-tenths of a second off the state record.

Rachael Bradford-Feldman, St. Andrew's, So.

Individual state gold in 200 IM, silver in 100 breast; contributed to two gold-medal relays.

Brenna Ruth, St. Andrew's, Jr.

Part of two gold-medal relays at state; placed fourth in 50 free, eighth in 100 free.

Fabiana Ingram, Suncoast, So.

Versatile young standout won silver in 100 back at 2A state; helped 200 medley relay (bronze) and 400 free relay (sixth).

Hannah Vandersluis, Suncoast, Sr.

Fifth in 200 IM and in 100 breast at 2A state, contributed to Chargers' strong relays.

Daniela Vega, Suncoast, Sr.

Outstanding fly swimmer helped her team's relay performance at 2A state.

Julie Suarez, Forest Hill, Jr.

Performance at 2A state in 100 backstroke placed 16th in the state regardless of class.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Sid Cassidy, St. Andrew's

Led Scots to runner-up finish at Class 1A state behind powerhouse Jacksonville-Bolles. Also coached boys team, which finished third.

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GIRLS SECOND TEAM

Carolyn Lee, Suncoast, Sr.

Lauren Suarez, Forest Hill, Sr.

Dany Gomez, Grandview Prep, Jr.

Cassidy Blackwin, St. Andrew's, Fr.

C.J. Martin, St. Andrew's, Fr.

Paige Timmermann, St. Andrew's, Sr.

Becky Meiser, Jupiter, Sr.

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GIRLS HONORABLE MENTION

Chase Harris, Jupiter, Jr.

Jamie Gurley, Boca Raton, Jr.

Chelsea Scuderi, St. Andrew's, Soph.

Jessica Conway, St. Andrew's, Soph.

Julia Corley, King's Academy, Sr.

Christine Herfurth, John I. Leonard, Jr.

Jenna Hocking, Suncoast, Sr.

Arianna Ortiz, Jupiter, Fr.

Wellsley Brown, Jupiter, Sr.

Caroline Schirmer, Jupiter, Fr.

Kristen Suarez, Forest Hill, Fr.

Alice Verme, Forest Hill, Soph.

Angel Wong, Suncoast, Sr.

Francesca Vandersluis, Suncoast, Fr.

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BEST OF THE TREASURE COAST

Fort Pierce Westwood: Zoey Antolini; Lincoln Park Academy: Kaila Biss, Ashley Wright; Martin County: Macey Arnold, Hannah Burdge, Aubrey Murray, Sara Lacusky, Abigail Remsburg; Pine School: Darby Goodwin, Emma Madden, Dakota Toner, Kennidy Quist, Olivia Wilson; Treasure Coast: Ryleigh Veithe. MVP: Macey Arnold, Martin County.