Orange eyes district title

Can they do it? According to coach Jake Roth-absolutely.
In a year when much is made of standards and sacrifices, Orange County High School swim and dive coaches Roth and Tracy Tucker have quietly assembled 13 undefeated boys on the cusp of an OCHS first: a Jefferson District boys swim and dive championship. The program has seen its share of great athletes in its nine-year history, including current UVa first-years Nick Montes de Oca and Tim Edwards. As Hornets, those two set nearly every OCHS record, overwhelmingly contributing to last year's runner-up finishes at districts and regionals. But, in their absence, this year's Hornets have gotten even better.
Freshmen Alex Montes de Oca and John Marquis lead a powerful squad of young year-round swimmers, including sophomores Justin Barden and Kenny Daniel who comprise the bulk of the Hornets' power. Montes de Oca and Barden have already broken several of Nick's records and are eager for more. Captain Ethan Wilkinson leads a cadre of seasoned juniors: Corey Kreiter, Cory Gunnett, and Will Barnes -- each of whom has State AA meet relay experience and all of whom are nearing individual cuts. The lone senior swimmer, Tony Breeden, calls the team "a great combination of work and fun."
Outnumbered at every meet, the Hornets have rallied to win against powerful rivals like Western Albemarle, Charlottesville, Spotswood, and Sherando.
After three years under Roth, the team's commitment and efforts are paying off. When "going to practice" means staying after school until 4:30, riding a bus for an hour, swimming for two hours, then riding another hour back to school, before driving home, it's a wonder there's a team at all. Most swimmers don't get home until after 10 p.m., and this sacrifice is across the board.
The girls' squad, led by captains Lindsay Cook and Zoe Klug has a force of developing talent including underclassmen Julia Yurasits, Meghan Bradberry, and Grace Hynes who promise to make an impact next year -- especially if they can find more divers.
Coach Tucker has been with the program since 2002, sending divers to State AA meet every year. Junior Robert Edwards finished eighth last year, as a first-year diver. Now a veteran, Edwards' confidence and strength are palpable on the board as he approaches Tim's records. Relying on lessons learned from his brother and from hours of practice, Edwards' dedication promises to help deliver this post-season. With district championships Friday evening at Crow Pool in Charlottesville and district swimming championships Saturday morning at FUMA, Hornet fans hope to clear space for a new championship banner in the Hornet Sports Center.