High school swimming district meets are here. See Northeast Florida Class 1A/2A previews
District 2-2A
At Planet Swim (swimming), Bolles (diving)
Time: 1 p.m. Oct. 16 (diving finals), 12 p.m. Oct. 18 (swimming finals)
Teams: Bishop Kenny, Fernandina Beach, Paxon, Raines, Riverside, Stanton, West Nassau, Westside, White, Yulee.
Outlook: The clear district favorite here is Bishop Kenny, aiming for three consecutive state titles on the boys side, and also a Class 2A girls contender. Graham Evans, Owen Kerkezi, Talley Gettemy and Rachel Howard are just a few of the Crusaders taking aim at district honors. But it's an overall deep district, with a host of contenders. Stories to watch include Stanton's Rylie Darkatsh in her drive toward a fourth straight girls diving title; Brody Singley's quest for a historic West Nassau swimming championship; Fernandina Beach's depth and speed, highlighted by Hampton Walker, Cora Foxwell-Jones and Neriah Giedrys; and Gateway champion Cameron Watson racing for victory for Paxon.
Middleburg magic: Here's how Broncos high school football charged back from 26-point hole
District 3-2A
At Dwight Hunter Northeast Pool, Gainesville
Time: 10 a.m. Oct. 19
Teams: Baker County, Clay, Gainesville Eastside, Menendez, North Marion, Palatka, Alachua Santa Fe, Suwannee, Ocala Vanguard.
Outlook: Now that Beachside and Tocoi Creek have moved up in a rare mid-cycle reclassification, this district is far harder to call, although Eastside has the strongest recent track record. Among the locals to watch will by Clay's Kylie Elrod, carrying on a long Blue Devils tradition in the pool.
District 2-1A
At Episcopal
Time: 10:30 a.m. Oct. 17 (swimming finals), 1 p.m. Oct. 17 (diving finals)
Teams: Baldwin, Bishop Snyder, Bolles, Episcopal, Florida Deaf, Hilliard, Jackson, Providence, St. Johns Country Day, St. Joseph, Wolfson.
Outlook: As usual, the district championship is just the beginning of the goals for Bolles, whose state title streak stretches beyond three decades. More of the same will be expected this time. The Bolles lineup is dominant from top to bottom, with Carter Lancaster and Kate Meyers-Labenz among the senior leaders of the pack. Other contenders for significant points will include Episcopal, a young team with several contenders including Owen Finn and Savannah Branon, and Wolfson, where John McNamara and Blakely Hammel lead a squad that placed second in Gateway.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: High school swimming 2023: District meet previews, Bolles/Bishop Kenny
