SAS swimming earns victories over Royals and Dragons

Sussex Academy swimming reached its 50th varsity win in four years of existence with victories over Delmarva Christian and the Salisbury School Jan. 19 at the Sussex Academy Aquatic Center. The Seahawks defeated the Delmarva Christian boys 75-18, girls 81-12 and the Salisbury School boys 70-22 and girls 56-38.

“This is sort of a big deal,” smiled Seahawks coach Tom Martiner. “After just four years, it is neat to reach that 50th win.”

Sussex Academy went from having 12 swimmers on the team in 2014 to 61 participants this season.

“It’s good growth for such a small school,” he said.

Sussex Academy has about 700 students in grades six through 12.

“The bottom line is that we are so appreciative of all the Henlopen Conference teams for allowing us to join them,” said Martiner, who was a Loyola All-American swimmer in 1993. “We are overblessed with the kids that we have now and the ones that have been on our team the last four years.”

Delmarva Christian head coach Jess Hart, who has been coaching the Royals for their five years as a team, has a positive outlook for her squads, which are both 1-2 on the season. There are 12 girls and 13 boys competing for the Royals.

“We really are having fun,” said Hart. “The kids really enjoyed the swim meet where they held their own. A lot of my team swam personal bests.”

Sussex Academy’s Samantha Oliver won the 100 free with a time of 1:02.97, while teammate Mari Dopler took top honors in the 500 free. The 200 free relay was taken by Sussex Academy’s Tessa Ellling, Claudia Carey, Oliver and Lindsey Guida with a 1:55.96. The 100 breaststroke was won by the Seahawks’ Nina Criniti with a 1:24.88.

The boys’ 200 medley relay was won by Sussex Academy’s Jake Mundok, Charles Mitchell, Gabriel Gonzales and Johnathan Kent in a time of 1:55.26. The 200 freestyle and 500 freestyle top honors went to the Seahawks’ Evan Davis with times of 2:01.82 and 5:39.55, respectively. Parker Shawver won the 50 free for the Seahawks with a 24.71. The Sussex Academy team of Cooper Shawver, Mundok, Kent and Parker Shawver won the 200 free relay with a 1:42.52. The Seahawks’ Charles Mitchell finished first in the 100 breaststroke with a 1:09.36. The Sussex Academy 400 free relay team of Parker Shawver, Wesley Kirschner, Christopher Smith and Cooper Shawver placed first with a 3:59.87.

Delmarva Christian’s Noah Strong won the 100 backstroke with a 1:10.58.

Sussex Academy moves to 8-0 on the girls’ side and 7-1 on the boys’. The Seahawks will host MOT Charter and Sussex Central Tuesday, Jan. 23.

Both Royals squads are 1-2 and will travel to Cambridge-South Dorchester High School Tuesday, Jan. 30.