St. Andrew's girls place second, boys third at Region 4-1A swimming and diving meet

Saturday, November 03, 2012
by Sharon Robb

St. Andrew's sophomore Megan Moroney and her teammates are more than ready for next week's state meet after a big showing at the Region 4-1A swimming and diving championships Saturday night at Nova Southeastern Aquatic Center.

St. Andrew's finished runner-up in the girls competition with 347.5 points behind Pine Crest's 401. The Scots boys were third with 257 points. Grandview Prep was the only other boys team from Palm Beach County in the top 10 with 82 points.

Plantation-American Heritage won its first region boys title with 307 points, beating Pine Crest (298) for the first time.

Moroney turned in some eye-opening swims. She won the 200-yard freestyle in 1:49.67 and the 100-yard butterfly in 54.87, both automatic All-America times. She swam the butterfly leg on the winning 200-yard medley relay that earned an automatic All-America time (1:45.32).

"I am in shock," Moroney said. "I am really excited now and can't wait to see what's going to happen (at the state meet)."

The Scots girls took second in the 200-yard individual medley and 100-yard backstroke (Tasija Karosas), 50-yard freestyle (Brenna Ruth), 100-yard breaststroke (Rachael Bradford-Feldman) and 200-and 400-yard freestyle relays.

The St. Andrew's boys were impressive as well. Senior Quinn Cassidy won the 200-yard individual medley by a half-body length in 1:54.78 and was second in the 100-yard breaststroke in 59.78. Junior Luke Hayhoe tied Chad Moody of Cardinal Gibbons in the 100-yard backstroke in 53.23. The Scots also won the 200-yard medley relay.

St. Andrew's coach Sid Cassidy was pleased with his swimmers after surviving what's considered the fastest region meet in the state.

"We were fifth in boys and third in girls last year at states, and our goal is to move up," Cassidy said.

Delray Beach-American Heritage sixth-grader Alyssa Brander was third in 1-meter diving with a score of 349.90 and will be one of the youngest participants at the state meet.

The winner of each event automatically qualified for next Saturday's Class 1A State Meet at the Orlando YMCA. After all four region meet results are turned in Saturday night, the 20 fastest times in each event advance.