Pinewood Prep swept the competition last weekend at its first swim meet of the 2010 season, receiving first place for boys’ and girls’ team scores combined at the Thomas Sumter Academy Invitational in Sumter.
There were first place individual swims by Florian Vogt for the 100-yard Freestyle with a time of 0:54:40, Alex Grossman for the 200 Freestyle with a time of 2:17:29, and Darien Hernandez for the 100 Butterfly with a time of 1:07:44. Pinewood also had first-place finishes in the relays for the boys team A 200 Relay, and the boys team A 200 Medley Relay that put the Panthers in a solid lead in a competition between 10 SCISA schools.
Pinewood also had second-place swims by Hanna Heil for the girls’ 50 Freestyle, Kaila Stephens for the girls’ 100 Butterfly, Florian Vogt for the boys’ 50 Freestyle, David Soyka for the boys’ 100 Butterfly, the boys’ 400 Freestyle Relay and the girls’ 200 Freestyle Relay.
Also contributing points to the team were third-place swims by Shelby Lemons for 100 Butterfly, Darien Hernandez for 500 Freestyle, Brooks Bowen for 100 Backstroke and the girls’ 400 Freestyle Relay.  To top it off, the girls’ 200 Medley Relay clenched the first-place title.
It was a good day for Coach Jessica Dawber’s Pinewood Panthers as swimmers Hanna Heil, Samantha Hillesheim, Kasey Grossman, Elizabeth Soyka, Shelby Lemons, Cassidy Latham, Kaila Stephens, Florian Vogt, David Soyka, Alex Grossman, Olivier Gaudreault, Hampton Dennis, Darien Hernandez and Brooks Bowen made SCISA times to qualify for individual events during the state meet competition. Eight separate Relay Teams made the qualification times as well.
“I am really proud of the athletes and excited how we have started the season,” Dawber said. “I am pleasantly surprised at how many of our swimmers made a best time at this meet. I am looking forward to a great season.”