Boys
Swimmer of the Year: Ryan McRae, Sr., Palm Harbor University
The leader on a team that graduated most of its star power, McRae kept the Hurricanes among the state’s elite programs with a stellar performance this season. At the Class 3A state meet, McRae won the 200-yard freestyle in 1 minute, 37.67 seconds and finished second in the 100 free in 45.41. He also was part the 400 free relay that finished as the state runnerup in 3:06.94. All of this helped PHU finish second overall, 38 points behind champion Boca Raton.
Most impressive accomplishments: McRae not only won his first state title, but he had automatic All-America qualifying times in all three of his events. He also has been a part of two state team titles.
Did you know? McRae is a Disney fanatic with thorough knowledge of all the characters and songs from films. He also is a pro at the video game Just Dance.
What’s next: McRae, who holds a 4.7 weighted GPA and scored 32 on the ACT, has committed to swim at Yale. He will continue to train with his club team this spring.
First team
50 free: Tristan Sanders, Jr., Palm Harbor University: Fourth in Class 3A state meet in 21.28
100 fly: Manuel Barragan, Jr., Palm Harbor University: Eighth at state in 51.59
100 free: Ryan McRae, Sr., Palm Harbor University: State runnerup in 45.41
100 back: Tristan Sanders, Jr., Palm Harbor University: State champion in automatic All-America time of 49.63
100 breast: Kevin Smith, Sr., East Lake: Fourth in 3A state meet in 58.24
200 free: Ryan McRae, Sr., Palm Harbor University: State champion in automatic All-America time of 1:37.67
200 individual medley: Manuel Barragan, Jr., Palm Harbor University: Third at state in 1:53.43
500 free: Nazareno Boscaino, Fr., East Lake: State champion in automatic All-America time 4:29.40
200 free relay: Countryside (Cooper Hoffman, Michael Lombardo, Tommy Kelly, Ryan Peters): Fourth in 3A state meet in 1:26.73
200 medley relay: Palm Harbor University (Tristan Sanders, Garrett Hoce, Manuel Barragan, Shaun VanHuyssteen): Third at state in 1:35.35
400 free relay: Palm Harbor University (Tristan Sanders, Manuel Barragan, Garrett Hoce, Ryan McRae): State runnerup in automatic All-America time of 3:06.94
Diving: Jack Stein, Sr., Shorecrest: Class A state runnerup with score of 497.95
Second team
50 free: Colin Hausman, Sr., East Lake. 100 fly: Georgi Krastev, Sr., Northeast. 100 free: John Farese, Jr., Shorecrest. 100 back: John Farese, Jr., Shorecrest. 100 breast: Joshua Chen, So., Shorecrest. 200 free: Taylor Uselis, Jr., Palm Harbor University 200 IM: Garrett Hoce, Jr., Palm Harbor University 500 free: Taylor Uselis, Jr., Palm Harbor University 200 free relay: Palm Harbor University (Shaun VanHuyssteen, Trevor Ackerman, Garrett Hoce, Ryan McRae). 200 medley relay: Shorecrest (John Farese, Alex Grant, Joshua Chen, Mark Marshburn). 400 free relay: Countryside (Ryan Peters, Michael Lombardo, Tommy Kelly, Cooper Hoffman). Diving: Jeffrey Burns, Sr., East Lake
Honorable mention
Clearwater Central Catholic: 200 free relay (Cameron Newton, Antonio Pinero, Kyle Helmus, Michael Hedrich); Countryside: Tanner Berendt (diving), Cooper Hoffman (100 free), Ryan Peters (200 free, 100 back); East Lake: 400 free relay (Thomas O’Connor, Colin Hausman, Nazareno Boscaino, Kevin Smith), Ludov Boscaino (500 free); Lakewood: 200 medley relay (Jonathan Long, Noah Harasz, Jamie Kane, Forest McCrosky), 200 free relay (Noah Harasz, Jamie Kane, Forrest McCrosky, Jonathan Long), Noah Harasz (200 free, 100 back), Jonathan Long (100 free); Northeast: Georgi Krastev (100 back), Josh Morehouse (diving), Cody Teaney (diving); Osceola: Calvin Bryant (500 free); Palm Harbor University: Shaun VanHuyssteen (50 free, 100 free); Seminole: 200 medley relay (Stefan Spiric, Daniel Pliss, Brody Patrick, Joey Sinabaldi), 400 free relay (Stefan Spiric, Brandon Christian, Joey Sinabaldi, Caleb Hudak), Stefan Spiric (100 free); Shorecrest: Joshua Chen (200 IM), 400 free relay (John Farese, Mark Marshburn, Alex Grant, Joshua Chen)
Coach of the year
Lisa Bitting, Palm Harbor University: After graduating three of her top four swimmers from last year’s state championship team, Bitting guided a young team to conference, district and region titles and a second-place finish at the Class 3A state meet.
Girls
Swimmer of the Year: Sydney Pickrem, So., East Lake
For two straight seasons, Pickrem has come close to winning multiple state titles. After winning the 100 breast and finishing second in the 200 individual medley last season, Pickrem came back and won the 200 IM in 2:01.40 and finished second in the 100 back in 55:38 at this year’s Class 3A state meet. She was the only girls swimmer from the county to win a state title in any classification.
Most impressive accomplishments: Pickrem injured her ankle in May and was unable to do any breaststroke workouts for three months, which hurt her in the individual medley. It also forced her to concentrate more on the 100 back this season. Her times in each event were still more than three seconds faster than her next closest competitor.
Did you know? Pickrem competed in the Canadian Olympic trials this past spring but failed to make the cut.
What’s next: Pickrem is training for big meets with her club team and preparing to win multiple state titles next season.
First team
50 free: Lauren Hall, Sr., Countryside: Class 3A state runnerup in 23.95
100 fly: Emma Spilman, So., Clearwater Central Catholic: Fourth in Class A meet in 56.30
100 free: Michelle Turek, So., East Lake: Fourth in 3A in 52.09
100 back: Sydney Pickrem, So., East Lake: State runnerup in automatic All-America time of 55.38
100 breast: McKenna Harris, Jr., St. Petersburg: 3A state runnerup in 1:05.23
200 free: Michelle Turek, So., East Lake.: Fourth at state in 1:50.36
200 individual medley: Sydney Pickrem, So., East Lake: State champion in automatic All-America time of 2:01.40
500 free: Summer Finke, So., Countryside: Fifth at state in automatic All-America time of 4:53.13
200 free relay: Palm Harbor University (Megan Kovac, Kendall McIntosh, Haley O'Meara, Lauren McIntosh): Seventh at state in 1:39.34
200 medley relay: East Lake (Mackenzie Hubbard, Sydney Pickrem, Michelle Turek, Madison Kennedy): Fifth at state in 1:50.78
400 free relay: Countryside (Lauren Hall, Summer Finke, Caroline Smythe, Autumn Finke): Fastest time in county, eighth at state (3:39.62)
Diving: Alexia Gonzalez, Sr., East Lake: Fourth at state with score of 414.60
Second team
50 free: Kendall McIntosh, Jr., Palm Harbor University. 100 fly: Madeleine Clarke, Jr., Northside Christian. 100 free: Lauren Hall, Sr., Countryside. 100 back: Katherine Mayer, So., Palm Harbor U. 100 breast: Hannah Roper, Sr., Seminole. 200 free: Autumn Finke, Sr., Countryside. 200 individual medley: Emma Spilman, So., Clearwater Central Catholic. 500 free: Autumn Finke, Jr., Countryside. 200 free relay: Countryside (Lauren Hall, Autumn Finke, Caroline Smythe, Summer Finke). 200 medley relay: St. Petersburg (Marissa Marckese, McKenna Harris, Alex Kehoe, Camille Fredyl). 400 free relay: East Lake (Mackenzie Hubbard, Madison Kennedy, Michelle Turek, Sydney Pickrem). Diving: Jennifer Dawson, Sr., Seminole
Honorable mention
Countryside: Summer Finke (200 free); Dunedin: Caitlyn Emery (diving), Lakewood: Ewa Dymarek (100 fly, 100 breast), Rebecca Halfast (200 free, 100 back); Northeast: Haley Phipps (diving); Osceola: 200 medley relay (Alexandria Wittman, Nicole Koda, Christina Tournant, Savannah Sawyers), 400 free relay (Nicole Nesto, Christina Tournant, Nicole Koda, Alexandria Wittman) Nicole Koda (200 IM, 100 breast), Jordan Lamanna (diving), Christina Tournant (100 fly), Alexandria Wittman (200 free, 500 free); Palm Harbor University: 200 medley relay (Morgan Perrotti, Rachael Freeman, Katherine Mayer, Kendall McIntosh), 400 free relay (Megan Kovac, Lauren McIntosh, Chloe Hubbard, Katherine Mayer), Katherine Mayer (200 free), Lauren McIntosh (50 free), Morgan Perrotti (100 back); Shorecrest: 200 medley relay (Meredith Little, Courtney Coleman, Monica Coundouriotis, Molly Rau), Meredith Little (100 free); St. Petersburg: Marissa Marckese (100 back).
Coach of the Year
Tim O’Keefe, East Lake: With star power at the top of his lineup, O’Keefe kept the Eagles near the top at conference, district and region meets. At the Class 3A state meet, his team placed fourth, the highest finish of any girls program in the county regardless of classification.