FUAC News & Notes

Just one week after winning the 2010 Virginia Prep League Conference Championship, Fork Union Military Academy Swimming and Diving made history on February 20th by winning their first Virginia State Championship in the 30 year history of the competition! In the process, the Blue Devils set another two State Records (200 Yard Medley Relay - T. Romanini, B. Sundel, J. Gebert, J. Humphrey; and 200 Yard Individual Medley - T. Romanini), while registering an incredible nine All-State swims and 49 personal best times in route to a 423 point victory. On the boards FUMA diving surprised the field as two virtually unknown first year divers, Obi Okeyo and Eric Palmer, placed 6th and 8th overall respectively.

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12 swimmers traveled to the Pitt Christmas Invitational, December 18th through the 20th. The snow and cold couldn't slow down our Blue Devils as they registered an incredible 41 personal best times, including 12 top 8 finishes! The team finished 11th out of 43 teams.

Congratulations to our Jr. National Qualifiers: Tony Romanini, Blake Sundel, Kurt Housh, Jake Humphrey, Jorah Gebert, and Matt Morio! Next up the club team travels to Richmond for a NOVA Invitational, while the high school men take on Trinity and Woodberry Forest in double dual meet action.

Lindsay Price headed down to Newport News this past weekend to go up against some of the top age group swimmers in the state at the VA USA-Swimming Age Group Championship Meet. Coming off a great short course season, and capping off a wonderful long course and summer league season, Lindsay finished 3rd in the 50 meter breaststroke, 4th in the 100 meter breaststroke, and dropped almost a second off her best time in the 50 meter fly. CONGRATULATIONS LINDSAY ON A FANTASTIC MEET!

This past weekend our Blue Devils traveled to George Mason University for the Summer Awards Championship. As one of the focus meets of the summer, it was sure to be a great showing for the team. Sito Arroyo won his first individual Region title in the Men's 15 and over 200 meter backstroke, while new comer to Virginia Swimming Joe Gershun dominated the distance events winning the 400, 800 and 1500 free! Sito and Joe also combined for another five second place finishes. Joining them on the podium with a second place finish in his first Summer Awards meet ever was Kevin Eliason (men's 15 and over 200 freestyle).

Other outstanding swims were registered by Chris Covington, placing third in the Men's 15 and over 100 free, on his way to qualifying for the USA-Swimming Senior Championship, and the Milburn boys (Ian and Morgan) that combined for an incredible eight top ten finishes including a fourth place finish by Morgan in the 9 and 10 year old 50 free. In all, the team registered an amazing 28 best times out of 29 swims! The team will finish the season with swimmers competing in the summer league champs at UVA, and Age Group Champs in Newport News...GOOD LUCK BLUE DEVILS!

Just one week after the Virginia Commonwealth Games our Blue Devils traveled to Lynchburg for one last tune-up competition before the championship meets in July. It was another stellar showing for the squad, with Lindsay Price leading the way by notching another two first place finishes in the 50 and 100 breaststroke events. Following close behind was Brook Reynard. Fresh off his first place finishes at the Commonwealth games, Brook lowered his best time in the 50 free by almost a half second on his way to a close second place finish. He also placed third in the fly.

Our distance swimmers also came up with big swims at the meet. Laura Neelley had an amazing swim in the 1500 free, shaving off 1 minute and 18 seconds off her best time! Michelle Caron also clocked a personal best time in the 400 free, dropping 3.96 seconds off her best time. The team finished the meet with 16 top ten finishes.

Stephanie Nardone, Lindsay Price and Brook Reynard combined for an incredible eight individual first place finishes, as the Blue Devils ruled the pool in during three days of stiff competition. The team registered a jaw dropping 29 top ten finishes, and 18 best times. It was our best showing at the Commonwealth Games since we started participating in it three years ago. Next up our Blue Devils travel to Lynchburg for the final invitational of the month.

Stephanie Nardone had an amazing weekend in Newport News at the OBX Invitational. The rising star in USA-Swimming came up with four first place finishes (50 free, 100 free, 50 back and 200IM), and a close second place finish in the 100 back. Her swim in the 50 free makes her the fastest 9-10 year old swimmer in Virginia!!!

Along with standout Nardone, the Blue Devils registered an impressive 10 best times and team records at the meet. Next up the team travels to the Virginia Commonwealth Games on June 19-21.

13 Blue Devils traveled to Lake Anna for the RAYS Lake Anna Open Water Invitational, May 30th. It was a fantastic showing with individual 1st place finishes from Michelle Caron (Women's 2K), Ian Milburn (Men's 2K), Stephanie Nardon (Girls 9-10 yr old 1K), and Brandon Payne (Boys 7-8 yr old 500m). Following close behind with 2nd place finishes were Lindsay Price (Girls 9-10 yr old 1K), and Mariah Dulaney (Girls 7-8 yr old 500m).

Other scoring finalist included: Sito Arroyo (4th place - Men's 3K), Kevin Eliason (6th place - Men's 3K), Kasey Hartman (4th place - Women's 2K), Maria Arroyo (5th place - Women's 2K), and Rachell Yellets (6th place - Women's 2K). Next up the Blue Devils travel to the OBX Long Course Invitational in Newport News, June 6-7.

SEASON RECAP:

From September through March the team registered over 1000 personal best times!

The FUMA high school team won the Virginia Prep League Championship, finished 2nd at the State Championship, and tied for 9th at the Easterns Championship in PA. We were awarded the Virginia State Championship Team Sportsmanship Award, and Coach Bocci was named the Virginia High School Coach of the year!

We had seven All-American swims, set two state records and broke seven school records.

We had 26 top eight finishes at the USA-Swimming Region Championship (including two 1st place finishes from Stephanie Nardone and Lindsay Price!!!).

Five age-group swimmers went on to represent FUAC at the Virginia Age Group Champs/Junior Olympics (S. Arroyo, I. Milburn, S. Nardone, L. Price, and M. Willard).

We had six top eight finishes at the USA-Swimming District Championship.

Fluvanna High School women came in second at the High School District Championship, and second at the Region Championship. The Fluvanna Men did equally well in their swims, however with smaller numbers.

We finished the season by dominating the Hookie Send-off Invitational at Virginia Tech with 15 individual first place finishes, and a 1-2-3 sweep in the 15 and over men's 200 freestyle relay.

The FUMA HS team finished the year with a average GPA of 3.52, and included 10 members of the National Honor Society. FUAC swimmer Katie McIver was the Fluvanna High School Graduating Class of 2009 Salutatorian.

Congratulations to the following swimmers that graduated from high school this May:

Robert Campione --- University of Alaska
Joseph Caudill --- Owitchawa University
Jeremy Gencavage --- Ursinus College
Johnnie Hineman --- Old Dominion University
Sherif Ibrahim --- University of Tampa
Katie McIver --- Virginia Tech
Hussein Mohamed --- University of Pitt
Laura Neelley --- Sweet Briar College
Brook Reynard --- Virginia Tech
Max Soucy --- Norwich University
Taylor Spruill --- San Diego State University
Zach Walton --- Radford University
John Warren --- Virginia Tech
Rachel Yellets --- Old Dominion University

Our team enrollment stayed relatively stable during these turbulent economic times. In fact, we've actually grown our swim lessons enrollment by approximately 15%, and added a few new faces to the swim team! We will continue to provide a great team culture, quality swim experience, and value to our members in the coming months and years.

Members of the Blue Devil Senior Squad traveled to the University of Pittsburgh December 12th through the 14th for the Pitt Christmas Meet, while the younger swimmers competed in the NOVA B/C invitational the week before. With what seems to be a reoccurring theme for the team this year, our Blue Devils burned up the pool with 38 best times, setting 19 team records, and registering 30 top ten finishes (including four first place finishes at the B/C Invite). Standouts included 12 year old Ian Milburn who registered 1st place finishes in the 500 and 200 free, 9 year old Lindsay Price who finished 1st in the 100 fly and 200 free, and Hussein Medhat who finished 2nd at the Pitt Invite in the 200 free (breaking the 1:40 barrier).