The run of dominance in Class 3A continued for both the Ponte Vedra and Nease swimming programs, as the Sharks won their fourth-straight girls team state title, while the Panthers’ boys squad made it three in a row at states.
The Sharks scored 312 points in the team competition at FAST Aquatics in Ocala, which bested the rival Panthers, who finished runner up, by 50 points.
For the seniors who have been with the Sharks’ swim team throughout high school they do not know what it feels like to not win a state title.
One of those seniors was Penny Zarczynski, who capped an incredible career with one last memorable night as she won gold in all four of the events she was entered in, which included the 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard butterfly, 200-yard medley relay, and 200-yard freestyle relay.
Her times of 22.78 seconds in the 50-yard freestyle and 53.74 seconds in the 100-yard butterfly were both new school records and qualified for an automatic All-American time.
Along with the team title, she brought home five gold medals and was the only athlete in Class 3A to have a perfect postseason by winning every race entered at districts, regionals, state preliminaries and the state finals.
Another streak that continued for the Sharks’ girls was also winning their fourth straight state title in the 200-yard medley relay and the 200-yard freestyle relay.
Kate Pelot, Sydney Player, Makenna Biernacki and Zarczynski accompanied the group that won the medley relay, while Ainsley MacAdams and Sophie Fox joined Zarczynski and Pelot to capture gold in the freestyle relay.
Helping lead the way for the Nease boys team en route to racking up 321 points and beating out Tallahassee Chiles which finished with 189, was sophomore Luke Zardavets, who just like Zarczynski, earned golds in all four of his events.
He and Zarczynski train together at Planet Swim, so it was only fitting that they were the only two athletes in all of Class 3A to achieve that rare feat in this year’s state competition.
The Panthers also received memorable performances from sisters Anna and Charlotte Driesse, with each one winning a state title as well.
Charlotte Driesse showcased her versatility on the big stage by winning her gold in the 200-yard individual medley and Anna Driesse topped the state in the 100-yard breaststroke.
When it came to the relays, the Nease boys took care of business by winning all three of the relay events and compiled crucial points toward the team title in the process.
Anatoli Monsalve, Jack Mainville, Nate Caswell and Lincoln Driesse teamed up to win the 200-yard medley relay, while Mainville was back at it but teamed up with Zardavets, Brandon Gear and Walker Lanoue to also win the 200-yard freestyle relay.
Lanoue was voted homecoming king during the Nease High football regular season finale on Nov. 7 but was unable to attend due to competing at states, but he made it well worth it and earned another gold in the 400-yard freestyle relay, teaming up with Gear, Zardavets and Lincoln Driesse.
The Sharks’ boys team finished fifth in Class 3A with 128 points.
