Records have been re-written this season by the Ponte Vedra High girls swim team, and the playoffs have yet to begun.
Eight of the 11 school records that stood on the girls’ side heading into the year have since been broken.
It is by far the most records head coach Junior Temotio has witnessed in his three years at the helm.
Junior Annie Wohlgemuth has set four new school records individually in the 100-yard backstroke and 100 butterfly, as well as part a team in the 200 medley relay and 200 free relay.
She wound up breaking her own record that she set earlier in the season in both those individual categories, including bettering her time by almost four seconds from 58.16 to 54.85 in the 100 backstroke.
According to Temotio, Wohlgemuth is a verbal commit to Florida State University.
Many of the records have been overtaken by underclassmen that have made a name for themselves immediately despite their young age.
The difference this year compared to previously is that Temotio has seen an increased dedication and discipline in the way the team is training.
That dedication includes starting practice every day at 6:30 a.m. at Planet Swim, located just down from Ponte Vedra High School on Davis Park Road.
“When you go to the meets and see your results, that’s when you understand why you’re getting up early all the time,” sophomore Annabelle MacAdams said. “It makes it all worth it.”
MacAdams is part of that talented group of youngsters and is the new record holder in the 100-yard breaststroke, 200 individual medley and 200 medley relay.
It is her first year swimming with the Sharks, but she has been swimming competitively for years prior to joining the team.
The breaststroke is one of her best events, but she can’t really explain why other than it has always been a natural fit.
“It just feels different for me than other strokes,” MacAdams said. “Since I’ve been swimming, I’ve just always really enjoyed it.”
Others who are just beginning to discover their talent are freshmen Penny Zarczynski and
Mary Agnes Smith, who did not take long to leave their mark on the program as record holders in the 50-yard free and 200 free, respectively.
“They have really stood out,” Temotio said. “On the girls’ side we have two or three freshmen that we are going to be taking to state this year. I believe we’re going to be among the top five in the relays at state.”
According to MacAdams, qualifying for states was a goal she was aiming for at the start of the season.
“I don’t really know how it’s going to feel, but I know it’s going to be a lot of fun,” MacAdams said.
The only records that remain heading into the postseason for the girls’ squad is Holly Cox’s 100 free set last year, Haley Harris’ 500 free from 2017 and the 400 free relay also set that year.
Of the two record-breaking relay teams, Wohlgemuth, MacAdams and Cox won the 200 medley relay and Wohlgemuth, Zarczynski, Cox and Liv Copland set a new mark in the 200 free.
Cox is a leader on the team and a captain alongside Hannah Outcalt. Cox is one of the few on the team that have success competing at state’s which is experience Temotio will look to rely on.
