DeKalb Swim and Dive Championships Start Thursday

By Mark Brock

The 2014 DeKalb County Swim and Dive Championships are set for Thursday and Saturday this week as the Chamblee Bulldogs and Lakeside Lady Vikings defend their 2013 titles.

Thursday’s schedule includes the diving competition beginning at 5 p.m. at the new Chamblee High swimming pool. Some 500-yard free style qualifying made also take place at Chamblee on Thursday. Swim events begin at 1 p.m. at Dynamo Swim Center.

The Bulldogs ended the nine-year reign of the Lakeside Vikings a year ago and are led by returnees Nicholas Oh (200 IM, 100 free), Matthew Williams (200 and 500 freestyle), Jacob Jordan (50 freestyle, 100 backstroke), John Mitchell (100 butterfly, 100 backstroke) and Alex Perry (100 butterfly).

Oh came up golden in individual competition twice a year ago as well as swimming legs for the gold medal winning 200 and 400 freestyle relay teams.

Tucker junior Cash DeLoache is a swimmer to watch as he returns after setting county meet records in the 100 butterfly (50.90) and 100 backstroke (52.52) in 2013.

The Lady Vikings have triumphed the past two seasons at the County Championships and 16 of the past 17 and must face a stiff challenge from a Dunwoody squad that has been swimming well this season. Dunwoody broke the Lady Vikings 14 year reign in 2011.

Sophomore Rachel Hu is coming off a standout freshman campaign which included gold medals in the 200Im and 100 breaststroke in last year’s county meet for Lakeside. Hu joined then freshman Nicole Hollahan and then juniors Lizzy White and Linsey Bergstrom for gold in the 200-medley relay to open last year’s event.

Julia Acosta (200 freestyle, 500 freestyle), Julianna Cartwright (200 freestyle, 500 freestyle), Hollohan (200 IM, 100 butterfly) and White (100 butterfly, 100 backstroke) all picked up medals in the Lakeside victory a year ago.

Dunwoody’s Allie Reiter has already swum state qualifying times in the 100 yard backstroke and 200 IM along with Laura Spratling in the 50 and 100 freestyle events. Emily Christenson is scoring well in the diving and could be the favorite heading into Thursday’s event.