Orange County swimmers shine at Districts

Three Orange County High School swimmers earned AAA Commonwealth District titles at last weekend’s district swim meet.

Alex Montes De Oca won the 200 individual medley (1:58.73), Ryan Hofmann won the 100 butterfly (54.60) and Justin Barden won the 100 backstroke (53.60).

Montes De Oca’s time also qualified for the State AAA meet next weekend.

Overall, the Orange boys finished third in the district with 68 points and the girls team finished ninth, with 19.

Orange Coach Ryan Campbell reported a solid district meet with more school records and personal best times established.

The boys 200 medley relay team of Barden, John Marquis, Hofmann and Montes De Oca finished second (1:43.63), as did the boys 200 free relay team of Barden, Hofmann, Ethan Cluff and Montes De Oca (1:34.03).

Barden earned a second in the 200 free (1:48.11) and set a new school record in the process.

Marquis had a seventh-place finish in the 100 breaststroke (1:06.57) and the Hornets’ 400 free relay team of Cluff, Julian Ciskanik, Tanner Kelson and Marquis placed seventh to complete the boys’ scoring.

For the girls, Larissa Neilan was second in the 200 individual medley (2:14.69) where she set a new school record—the 16^th school record broken by the Hornets this season. She also placed third in the 100 breaststroke (1:07.87).

The girls 200 medley relay squad of Hayley Gunnett, Neilan, Theresa Bulik and Alexandra Weth placed seventh (2:10.28), while Neilan, Gunnett, Bulik and Jessica McQuaid placed eighth in the 200 freestyle relay (1:59.75).

 Meanwhile, 12 Hornets posted personal bests across 17 events, marking the 111th time this season that swimmers have posted personal best times, coach Campbell reported.

Daniel Hyden swam his fasted 200 free and 100 breaststroke, Zach Miksovic swam his best 200 free and 500 free times. Brandon Carr posted his best 200 free and 100 back times. Barden (200 free) and Montes De Oca (200 IM) posted their best times, while Archie Crowe had his best 200 IM race as well. Kenny Daniel and John Register both swam their best 50 frees and 100 frees. Weth posted her top 50 free time and Bulik recorded her fastest 100 free time. Kelson posted his best 500 free time, while McQuaid swam her fastest 100 back.

Nine Hornets will be competing at Friday’s Northwest Regional meet, including: Barden, Ciskanik, Cluff, Daniel, Hofmann, Kelson, Marquis, Montes De Oca and Neilan.