Planet Swim earns runner-up result at state championships

Planet Swim Aquatics continues to establish itself as one of the premier swimming programs in the state.

That was made even more clear after the group traveled to Orlando and came back to Ponte Vedra with a runner-up finish in the Florida Swimming Senior Championships that took place March 8 to 12.

The weeklong competition featured 49 swimmers representing Planet Swim at the state qualifying meet. They were led by Planet Swim owner and head coach Gus Calado.

The second-place result was a combination of success across the boys and girls divisions with several personal best times and top-three finishes.

Planet Swim won a trio of team events, including the 200-yard medley relay in both the girls and boys classes.

Hayden Sunman, Nic Parnell, Alex Kim and Matt Koziel swam to the title in the boys 200 medley relay, while Annie Wohlgemuth, Liv Copland, Penny Zarczynski and Maryn McDade proved to be an unstoppable grouping as they won both the girls 200 and 400 medley relays.

Sophie Fox replaced Copland and joined Wohlgemuth, Zarczynski and McDade for the girls 200 free relay, but the results remained the same as they secured yet another victory.

Wohlgemuth, a Ponte Vedra senior, stacked up six wins during the championship, including three individual titles in the 50 backstroke, 100 backstroke and 50 fly.

She is known for her specialty with the backstroke discipline and set a new meet record in the process during the event.

Zarczynski joined Wohlgemuth as Ponte Vedra High swimmers that enjoyed success at the event, as she won the 15- to 16-year-old girls 100 fly with a a time that also qualified her for the winter junior national championships.

Nease senior Matt Koziel placed third in the 50 freestyle, and also qualified for winter junior national championship competition.

Many swimmers from high school programs across the First Coast take part in Planey Swim and left their mark during the state championships:

• Creekside High junior Hayden Sunman won the 15-to 16-year-old boys 200 IM, and 3rd in the 200 breaststroke with a winter junior national championships qualifying time
• Fleming Island High junior Maryn McDade won the 50 free and qualified for the winter juniors
• Augustine High sophomore Jack Mainville won the 15-to 16-year-old boys 50 breaststroke and finished second in the 100 breaststroke
• Bishop Kenny High sophomore Owen Kerkezi placed second in the 15-to 16-year-old boys 50 backstroke
• Tocoi Creek junior Alex Kim came in third in the 50 butterfly
• Ponte Vedra High freshman Kate Pelot finished third in the 15-to 16-year-old girls 50 backstroke