Swimming: CSN's Contento takes 15th place in 100 backstroke

The Seahawks were happy to have her back. Contento fought through a sore shoulder to place 15th in the 100-yard backstroke at the FHSAA Class A Swimming and Diving Finals on Saturday at North County Pool in Sebastian.

Bolles Academy of Jacksonville won both the boys and girls team titles. Pine Crest finished second in the boys competition, while Gulliver Prep finshed second for the girls.

Contento had hurt her shoulder earlier in the weekend while in the Atlantic Ocean. She said it felt sore Saturday. Seeded 19th in the preliminaries, Contento qualified for the consolation finals, something that surprised her.

"I did not expect to make finals at all," she said. "I just wanted to swim hard for the team. Taking two years off of swimming, I'm just kinda getting back into the groove."

For the most part, the meet was a learning experience for a crew of young Collier County swimmers. Most of Saturday's local swimmers were in ninth grade or younger, but turned in some promising times in the preliminaries.

Community School seventh grader Amy Salce, the district champion in the 50 and 100 freestyle races, finished 24th in the 100 free. She struggled a bit in the 50 free, finishing 33rd overall, but that race got her warmed up for the 100 free.

Salce dropped nearly four-tenths of a second from her win ning district time to finish second in her heat and 24th overall.

Community School eighth grader Nichole Antilla came into the state meet seeded 35th in the diving competition, but moved up to 29th in the final standings.

Community School coach Aaron Weiny said the experience is just as important as the competition.

"That's why we gave so many swimmers the opportunity," he said. "We have non-swimmers with us who want to swim now because of what they see here.

And if they feel that, that's the kind of experience I want my swimmers to feel for the season."

FHSAA Class A Swimming and Diving Championships

North County Pool, Sebastian

GIRLS

Team Results: 1. Bolles Academy 541.50, 2. Gulliver Prep 225, 3. Pine Crest 188, 38. Community School.

Individual Results: 200 medley relay: 1. Bolles 1:45.16, 34. Community School 2:06.23; 200 freestyle: 1. Carr (BOL) 1:49.50; 200 individual medley: 1. Siow 1:59.91; 50 freestyle: 1. Raleigh (PCR) 23.43, 33. Salce (CSN) 26.48; Diving: 1. Viola (LHP) 541.60, 29. Antilla (CSN) 128.10 ;100 butterfly: 1. Raleigh (PCR), Bernier (CSN) NS; 100 freestyle: 1. Nauta (TPP) 51.57, 24. Salce (CSN) 55.85; 500 freestyle: 1. Carman (BOL) 4:44.63; 200 free relay: 1. Gulliver Prep 1:37.24; 100 backstroke: 1. Carman (BOL) 54.94, 15. Contento (CSN) 1:04.28; 100 breaststroke: 1. Siow (BOL) 1:03.67; 400 free relay: 1. Bolles Academy 3:30.16, 37. Community School 4:12.49

BOYS

Team Results: 1. Bolles Academy 399, 2. Pine Crest 174, 3. Belen Jesuit 146

Individual Results: 200 medley relay: 1. Pine Crest 1:37.56; 200 freestyle: 1. Cormier (GBRZ) 1:40.17; 200 individual medley: 1. Yimsomrauy (BOL) 1:52.90, 36. Robley (SJN) 2:19.60; 50 freestyle: 1. Madwa (CHAM) 21.36, 38. McGrath (SJN) 24.47; Diving: 1. Tillbrook (SEM) 546.00; 100 butterfly: 1. Wong (BOL) 50.78, 38. Robley (SJN) 1:01.69; 100 freestyle: 1. Vivo (BLN) 47.21, 39. McGrath (SJN) 54.92; 500 freestyle: 1. Saw (BOL) 4:29.70; 200 free relay: 1. Bolles Academy 1:26.77; 100 backstroke: 1. Wyher (TPJ) 52.51; 100 breaststroke: 1. Bullock (CGIB) 58.61; 400 free relay: 1. Bolles Academy 3:09.47, 39. Community School 3:54.10