Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
High schools
Jessica Nava and Alessandra Baldari lead a contingent of swimmers back into competition.
State record-holder Jessica Nava is downright giddy about this year’s high school swim season.
The Westminster Academy senior won two Class 1A state titles last year in both the 100-yard butterfly and in the 100-yard backstroke. Her time of 53.45 in the butterfly broke her own state record of 53.77, which she set in her sophomore year. Just a month later, Nava took third in the Speedo East Winter Junior Nationals with a new personal mark of 52.91.
“I’m really looking forward to this school year, especially the fall because it’s my last high school season, I’ll be taking my official visits, and then committing,” said Nava, the reigning Sun Sentinel Broward Girls Swimmer of the Year.
“I’m a little nervous but for the most part super pumped to see what happens in the next few months,” Nava said. “Thinking about my last high school season is bittersweet because it’s been so much fun but I’m really excited for college swimming.”
Nava’s main competition at state will come from Benjamin senior Alessandra Baldari, the two-time Sun Sentinel Palm Girls Swimmer of the Year, who also broke the state record in the state meet.
Baldari, who clocked a 53.59, finished a close second in the 100-fly event to Nava (53.45). She said she has worked harder than ever to prep for her final year.
Nava’s cousin, Calvary Christian Academy junior Rachel Contich is expected to medal at state this year in the 500-free after placing fifth last season in the Class 1A meet.
American Heritage-Plantation swim coach Nobutaka Tan hopes for a topthree finish at state for both the boys and girls teams. They both finished fifth last year. The Patriots boys’ had won three straight state titles until then.
Senior Catharine Cooper, the defending Class 2A 50and 100-yard freestyle state champion and Panamanian National team member, returns along with seniors Nicholas Pacitti, Christian Kopecki and Kevin Porto, all state finalists in the 200 & 500-yard freestyle event.
Pine Crest, which handed Jacksonville Bolles its first dual-meet loss in 22 years and defeated them in the Woodson Invitational, almost ended their 26-year run as state champions, falling by just 10 points.
The Panthers will have to make up for the graduation of two-time Sentinel Swimmer of the Year and USA National team member Marta Ciesla who is now at USC.
Pine Crest junior Hannah Virgin, the 100-breast state champ, also returns along with High School All Americans Ana Lyn (Sr.), Alexandra Meszaros (Jr.), and Andrea Santander (So). The boys are also coming off a third-place state finish led by state diving champion Kevin Mendez (8th grader), and several High School All-Americans including Nico Ferrara.
University School senior Patrick Groters, who won the 100-back (49.19) and took second place in the 200-IM (1:48.52) at the Class 1A state meet, represented Aruba in the FINA World Junior Swimming Championships and turned in a record-breaking performance. Groters broke his own national record in the 100-meter backstroke with a lifetime-best 57.02 that ranks him 17th in the world.
St. Andrew’s returns key swimmers from their state fifth-place girls team including senior Lauren Hew, juniors Sydney Torres, Shayna Fetes, and freshman Emily Trieschmann.
St. Andrew’s junior Izaak Bastian, the 2016 Sentinel’s Palm Beach County Boys Swimmer of the Year, returns for his senior season after he finished second in the FHSAA state meet in the 50-yard freestyle and third in the 100-yard breaststroke. He was also a member of the record-setting, state-runner-up 200-yard medley relay team.
Junior Chadé Nercisio, who holds seven school records at Trinity Christian, is hoping to improve on her two Top-5 finishes at state in the 50- and 100-free events. Sophomore Nicole Gomez is back along with Park Visa transfer Eriana Temperino who finished fifth in 200-IM at Class 3A state meet.
Cooper City junior Kathleen Golding is hoping to make it three straight Class 4A state titles in the 200-IM.
Cypress Bay coach John Spire believes this could be the best girls team since 2006 when the team finished sixth.
Sophomore Gabrianna Banks, one of five state qualifiers, heads the team and Spire expects big things out of freshman Paige Lane.
Alec Wathen, a 2012 graduate, who went on to swim at Florida Southern College, will head St. Thomas’ girls’ team.
King’s Academy is young and talented led by eighthgrader Joshua Zuchowski, who recently broke five national records as a 12-year-old. His father and coach Jonathan, believes his son can reach the state finals in two events.