It was a complete performance, but it's unlikely that any team — Hough included — will impose its will so dominantly in Saturday's 4A West Regional at Huntersville Family Fitness and Aquatics Center (9 a.m.). It's expected to be an ultra-competitive meet.
"We'll have our hands full," says Hough coach Tim Queen. "Our kids are excited."
Queen says the teams to beat are Providence's boys and Ardrey Kell's girls. Like Hough to its northern outpost, the two south Charlotte schools are in the heart of SwimMAC Carolina's year-round competitive swimming territory. Providence won both championships last year, as Hough took third in the boys' championship and was fifth in the girls' meet. Queen says swimmers must be aggressive yet also fundamental as they try to not only win a regional title, but qualify for next week's state championships.
"We know the main focus is the next weekend, and we're going to try to get through the gateway," he says.
The preliminary seeding lists for regionals were released early this week, and Hough enters the meet with 10 top seeds in 22 events (not including diving, which was unavailable).
Seven of those top seeds are by the Lady Huskies. Emily Allen's time of 52.71 seconds is the one to beat in the 100-yard freestyle. Katie O'Brien is the top seed in the 100 butterfly (59.08), and the Hough girls also have the best 200 medley relay time (1:52.10). Hough's Heather Merritt is seeded first in the 200 freestyle (1:54.58) and the 100 backstroke (58.07).
"Heather's fast," says Queen. "When she puts that cap on, she's all business."
Ally Dupay, who moved into Hough's district from West Virginia, has the time to beat in the 100 breaststroke (1:07.04) and the 200 individual medley (2:10.68). Her performance this year has been a bonus, says Queen. Word of her arrival in town spread quickly once others had seen her swim.
Hough's Payton Schrum is seeded second to teammates in the 100 breaststroke (1:08.00) and 100 butterfly (59.31), and Allen is listed second in the 50 freestyle (24.87).
Hough has three top seeds in the boys' championship, including two by Jack Manchester. Manchester's time of 1:42.25 is tops in the 200 freestyle, and teammate Peter Brumm is third (1:43.43). While Brumm has the time to beat in the 100 butterfly (50.77), Manchester is first in the 500 freestyle (4:41.11).
"Height-wise, they're similar," Queen says, comparing Manchester and Brumm. "Jack is maybe an inch taller. They swim totally different."
Queen says Brumm's underwater streamline sets him apart from most swimmers, while Manchester is a strong racer between the walls.
The Hough boys are seeded second in the 400 freestyle relay (3:20.99).
While diving seedings were unavailable, Queen says the Huskies have weapons there in Harrison Mitchell and Blair Timberlake. Any team with capable divers, he says, has a distinct advantage.
"It's like having a pole vaulter in track," he says. "If you have a good pole vaulter, you're one step ahead of everybody else. They can really boost your point totals quickly."
North Meck has one top seed entering regionals, Molly Sanborn in the girls' 500 freestyle, with a time of 5:14.09.
LNC girls seek repeat
If relay seeding is any indication of strength and depth, Lake Norman Charter likes where it stands entering Saturday's 1A/2A West Regional at HFFA (4 p.m.).
LNC is the top seed in the boys' and girls' 200 freestyle relays, with times of 1:35.09 and 1:46.06, respectively, and is seeded second in the girls' 200 medley (2:03.24), girls' 400 freestyle (3:57.36) and boys' 400 freestyle relays (3:31.05).
The Knights are well represented individually as well, with Emma Rubel earning the top seed in the girls' 100 backstroke (1:02.55) and Gabi Osterholz seeded second in the 200 individual medley (2:19.87).
LNC's Chris Cardwell has the best pre-regional time in the boys' 100 freestyle (50.77), and Brian Davis has the time to beat in the 100 breaststroke (1:05.87). Brian Piccirilli is second in the 100 butterfly seedings (54.18).
The Lady Knights won last year's regional title, while the LNC boys missed the win by four points, finishing as runner-up.
