Viking boys finish third at 2A state swimming meet

Staff Reports

Fort Walton Beach's boys 200 freestyle relay team ruled the pool Saturday at the Class 2A state swimming meet.

In a memorable day for the Viking boys, Joshua Simmons, Jesse Simmons, Cody Conant and David Stevens combined for the team's watershed moment, swimming to a state championship at the YMCA Aquatic Center in Orlando.

"It was extremely neck and neck the entire way. The finish was phenomenal," Jesse Simmons said. "It was one of those moments that just takes your breath away."

The foursome's top finish - which came in 1:28.20 and accumulated 40 team points - helped springboard the Vikings to a third place finish overall with 130 points. Miami's Belen Jesuit Prep won with 200 points.

"They were floating on water, and I felt like I was walking on it after watching their performance today," Fort Walton Beach coach Pam Braseth said.

Fort Walton Beach's 400 freestyle relay team, which is the same as the 200 freestyle team, placed third (3:14.24) and set a new county record. It was the last event, and the Vikings' output allowed them to jump from fifth place to third.

The 200 medley relay team of Joshua Williams, Matthew Schade, Joseph Mackenzie and Joshua Simmons took ninth (1:42.87).

The best individual finish among area swimmers came from Choctawhatchee's Alex Strom, who raced to third in the 500 freestyle in 4:34.50 to gain All-America status. Strom shaved nearly 5 seconds off his preliminary time in the finals.

"I did a lot better than I thought I'd do," Strom, who also took ninth in the 200 freestyle (1:44.04), said. "I cut 8 seconds off from regionals. It was amazing. I wasn't really expecting that."

On the girls side, the top finish among area swimmers belonged to Fort Walton Beach's Logan Griffith. She captured a fifth in the 100 breastroke in 1:08.94.

"It was great," said Griffith, who also competed in the 100 freestyle, placing 16th (54.16). "I just go out and try to do my best and gave it all I had."

Fort Walton Beach's Matthew Schade swam to fifth in the 100 breastroke (1:01.88). In a Viking-heavy 50 freestyle, Jesse Simmons captured eighth (21.90), Stevens ninth (21.89) Joshua Simmons 20th (22.78) and Conant 21st (22.80).

Navarre's Chrissy Parsons competed in two events, placing seventh in the 100 breastroke (1:09.65) and 14th in the 200 individual medley (2:13.33).

Choctaw's Cheryl Corvo placed 13th in the 100 backstroke (1:01.61), and teammate Olivia Strom was 23rd in the 100 breastroke (1:12.62.).

Choctaw's boys 200 medley relay team of Patrick Whitehurst, Strom, Christian Johnston and Michael Whitehurst placed 15th (1:48.76).

The Indians' 400 freestyle team of Strom, the Whitehursts and Ryan Adams placed 11th in 3:21.99.