Loss To Blake Doesn’t Sink Seniors’ Spirits

In Saturday's 219.5-106.5 loss to Blake, the Watkins Mill Swim and Dive Team said an early farewell to their seven seniors at the Germantown Indoor Swim Center.

Their regular season finished, seniors Heather Brock, Megan Hovenier, Patrick King, Rose Mahoney, Vanessa Moyonero, Cody Randolph and Myriam Rofrano look to make their last push swimming for Watkins Mill at championship meets over the next two weeks.

On Saturday, coach Bryan Clark presented the departing swimmers with a bouquet of orange and blue balloons tied to a sports drink.

"They're just overall good kids. I'm upset I only get to spend one year with them," said Clark, who is in his first year coaching the Wolverines. "The captains—Patrick King and Rose Mahoney—they’re great leaders."

Saturday wasn’t all ceremony, though. They had some swimming to do. Though outmatched in the water by a powerful Blake team, Watkins Mill swimmers did snag four individual wins in the dual meet. Nick Lechner won the 100-meter freestyle in 51.46 seconds and Patrick King swam the 50-yard freestyle in 24.09 seconds. Kelly Lewis took two races: the 100-meter breaststroke (1:16.6) and the 200-meter individual medley (2:40.56).

"I told the kids to get ready for their personal bests, and get ready for the division meet next week," Clark said. "Our girls have a lot of times, and have a good chance of getting a trophy next week."

 King said he was also optimistic about swimming next week.

"It's a big meet. We only lost to Clarksburg by 13 points, and we were missing a bunch of swimmers," King said. "We can definitely win against the girls and maybe even pull out a win over the division."

Though Clark insisted that his first year of success was "all them, not me," King heaped his coach with praise.

"He's just a great coach," King said. "He's definitely made it so that people want to come back."

Though King wished he could swim for another season, he’s thankful to have the chance to represent Watkins Mill in the pool.

"I've been at it since I was eight years old.  It just made it way funner," he said.