THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 15, 1996 TAG: 9602130123
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 27 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Sports
SOURCE: BY JAMI FRANKENBERRY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 56 lines
Winning its 12th consecutive Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools championship Saturday was nice for the Norfolk Academy boys swim team.
But ask the Bulldogs, and they'll say the state championship at Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham this Friday and Saturday is what they've been working toward.
``We're not real worried about winning (the TCIS meet),'' said Norfolk Academy senior Chip Cutchins after winning one individual event and participating on two winning relays on Saturday. ``It's important to us, but this is our last chance to tune up and work on our turns for the state meet. We use lots and lots of practice and slowly wind down so that it puts you at the peak (for the state championship).''
If the TCIS meet is any indication, the Bulldogs have a good chance of repeating as state champions. Norfolk Academy won five individual races and had 12 third-or-better performances in beating second place Hampton Roads Academy by 188 points.
``Everything is right on target,'' said Bulldogs coach Rick Leach. ``We're showing our full lineup for (the state meet). This is a dress rehearsal for that.''
Cutchins, an All-American, said Norfolk Academy has an edge heading into state.
``We've got a tradition here that a lot of other schools don't have,'' said Cutchins, referring to Norfolk Academy's 16 boys state titles.
The Bulldogs have had to work harder this season, Leach says.
``We graduated three All-Americans from last year, and that's hard to overcome,'' he said. ``But I feel real good about what our kids are doing this year. If each of our swimmers swim their race the way they're capable, I'll be happy.''
Leach also expects his girls team, which finished second to Hampton Roads in the TCIS meet, to be successful in state competition. They lost to the Navigators by 66 points but will be able to compete in diving, which is not included in the TCIS.
``(Diving) is strong for us,'' Leach said, ``and that's a lot of points. But in state, there are more swimmers coming in.''
The Norfolk Academy girls finished second to Hampton Roads in last year's state meet.
RECORD-BREAKERS: No private school state records were broken at the TCIS swim meet, but two school records fell.
Norfolk Collegiate's Keith Kline broke his own school record with a 58.83 time in the 100 backstroke, and teamed with David Craft, Graham Hoffman and Keith Boytek to break the Oaks' record in the 400 free relay in 3:45.17. by CNB