THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, February 7, 1996 TAG: 9602060132
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY VICKI L. FRIEDMAN, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 40 lines
The Norfolk Academy boys swim team is the favorite to win its 12th consecutive TCIS crown at Saturday's championships, which is hosted by the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs, who are also the defending state champs, are led by returning All-American senior Chip Cutchins, a backstroker.
Others from Norfolk Academy expected to finish strong include seniors Teddy Rice (butterfly, breaststroke), Gary Sharp (freestyle, backstroke) and Bo Williams (200 and 500 free); sophomore Dustin Walters (200 individual medley, 500 free); and eighth-grader Andrew McCoskey (breaststroke, 200 IM).
Leading Norfolk Collegiate are sprinter Josh Boutek, freestyler David Craft and all-arounder Keith Kline. Boutek swims the 50 free in 25.98 seconds, one of the fastest times in the TCIS.
Hampton Roads Academy is the favorite in the girls competition, and Norfolk Academy coach Rick Leach expects his team to finish second. The Bulldogs lost to HRA last year at state.
Leading the Bulldogs are senior Kenley Witty (backstroke), Cary Savage (50 free) and Dana Schaefer (100 free, 100 fly). Sophomore Lizzy Rice is the top distance freestyler in the TCIS, and Christina Burley is the best in breaststroke.
Melanie Stein, 6-0 in the backstroke, leads Norfolk Collegiate. Stein, along with Ruth Ellen Newberry, Meredith Gauthier and Kim Broughmouney, make up the 200 relay team that finished fifth at state last year and set a school record with a time of 1:50. Newberry is also strong in the 50 and 100 free, and Gauthier is competitive in the 100 fly and 100 breast.
The Virginia State Independent School Swimming & Diving Championship is Feb. 16-17 at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham. by CNB