Sunday, April 2, 2006

Girls' Swimmer Of the Year

ALLISON DAVIS, LEONARDTOWN, SR.

After being forced to watch the Raiders' 2005 Southern Maryland Athletic Conference championships from the sidelines because of the flu, Davis returned this season to dominate two events: the 500-yard freestyle (5:33.63) and the 100 free (a SMAC record 54.76). Davis also joined in the triumphant 200-yard medley and 400-yard freestyle relay teams and won the 100 free at the 4A/3A championships.

Girls' Coach

Of the Year

MEGAN SHELTON, LEONARDTOWN

In the program's second year, Shelton led the Raiders to their second straight SMAC title. Going undefeated through their dual-meet schedule, Leonardtown dominated the season-ending conference meet, grabbing victories in all three relays and five of the eight individual races. The Raiders' total of 474 outdistanced second-place Northern by 101 points. Shelton prepares her swimmers to swim any race at the championship meet by having them compete in every event at least once during the season.

First Team

CAITLIN BRANAMAN, LEONARDTOWN, SOPH.

A versatile swimmer, Branaman gave the Raiders a strong start at the SMAC championships with a third-place finish in the 200-yard freestyle and later provided a one-two Leonardtown finish by taking second in the 100-yard backstroke in 1:07.44. She swam the lead leg on the victorious 200- and 400-yard freestyle relay teams.

DAVI CLARK, LEONARDTOWN, FR.

Part of a remarkable Raiders freshman class, Clark pushed Leonardtown toward the second SMAC title by winning the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:13.95. She also took part in the record-setting 200-yard medley relay team, which finished in 1:57.30, and the winning 200-yard freestyle team.

TORI CRANFORD, NORTHERN, JR.

After transferring to Northern before the season, Cranford quickly made her mark by dominating the 100-yard butterfly. At the SMAC championships, she set a meet record in the event, touching the wall in 1:02.66, more than two seconds faster than the previous mark.

BRITTANY CULPEPPER, LEONARDTOWN, FR.

Culpepper burst onto the scene for an already imposing Raiders team. She won the 100-yard backstroke at the regional 4A/3A championship meet and followed that by setting a record in the same event at the SMAC championships in 1:02.91. She also won the SMAC 200-yard individual medley.

ERICA HAMOR, LACKEY, SR.

Hamor backed up her win in the 200-yard freestyle at last year's SMAC championships by winning this year's race in 2:09.86. Later in the meet, she finished a strong fourth in the 500-yard freestyle, posting a time of 6:01.83.

AMY LACOSSE, NORTHERN, SOPH.

A repeat All-Extra performer, Lacosse holds the school record in both the 50- and 100-yard freestyles. She earned a SMAC title in the 50 freestyle by swimming a 25.80 before grabbing a second-place finish in the 100 freestyle, clocking a time of 57.10.

BRITTANY LEE, NORTHERN, SR.

One of the most successful swimmers in Northern history, Lee will graduate holding school records in the 500-yard freestyle and 100-yard backstroke. A pair of second-place finishes at SMAC in the 200- and 500-yard freestyle helped the Patriots finish second at the meet.

Honorable Mention

Justine Cavnor, Leonardtown, Fr.; Jenn Coley, Patuxent, Jr.; Christine Dunleavy, La Plata, Soph.; Karen Elder, McDonough, Sr.; Lydia Michela, McDonough, Sr.; Caitlin Phelan, Chopticon, Jr.; Kara Popola-Forgione, Calvert, Sr.; Caitlin Rondeau, Leonardtown, Fr.; Aaryn Schied, McDonough, Sr.; Stephanie Stahl, La Plata, Sr.; Laura Suarez-Hewitt, Leonardtown, Jr.; Colleen Ursic, Patuxent, Soph.