by Tom Chillemi –
Several members of the combined swim teams of Middlesex High School and Lancaster High School placed at the Virginia High School League (VHSL) Feb. 17 state swim meet in Richmond.
Eight of 11 swimmers on the team qualified for the state meet.
Middlesex swimmers who placed at the state meet include:
- Boys 200 medley relay (11th) — Nielson McMinn, Riley Dean, Louis Juarez and James Farmer.
- Ella Hodges —15th in 100 butterfly.
- Ashtyn Franklin —15th in 500 freestyle.
- Boys 200 freestyle relay (13th) — James Farmer, Louis Juarez, Riley Dean and Nielson McMinn.
- Girls 200 freestyle relay (15th) — Karime Juarez, Delaney Ruark, Ella Hodges and Ashtyn Franklin.
- Nielson McMinn — 11th in 100 breaststroke.
Lancaster swimmers who placed:
- Morgan VerMeer — fifth in 50 freestyle and ninth in 100 freestyle.
- Ella Posey —16th in 50 freestyle and 14th in 100 freestyle.
“They did so great!” said Head Coach Jenny Morotini. “For most of them, it was not only their first time competing at a state-level swim meet, but it was their first experience on a high school swim team.”
Morotini continued, “We were on the bus ride to states, the team was talking about how they were part of MHS and Middlesex County Public Schools history since they swam on the first MHS swim team. They were all very proud of that.
“I got to end the season with my swimmers talking to each other about how they’re going to swim together year-round and in the summer, and how they’re coming back even better next year — and that is just one of the things that makes me so excited for the future of the swimming program.”
