In the end they only accumulated enough points to reach third place, a final tally that might have left some teams disappointed. But such is life in the Virginia Group AAA Concorde District that Fairfax’s girls swim team came out of the district tournament last Saturday at Cub Run Recreation Center in Chantilly as buoyant as ever. The Rebels know better than any team how to raise their effort as the postseason stakes get higher.
After all, it was just a year ago Fairfax entered the Northern Region meet after a fourth-place finish at districts. Instead of folding, they won the region championship and the next week came within six points of a Group AAA state title, finishing runner-up to Yorktown by five points.
“We did about as well as expected at districts, even though winning a championship would have been nice,” said sophomore Ellyn Baumgardner, who trains throughout the year alongside many of the Washington, D.C. area’s top swimmers at Curl-Burke Swim Club. “There are just so many good teams and so many good swimmers. But next week [at the Northern Region meet] we’re going for it. We think it can happen again.”
It was a record-breaking night for Baumgardner and her fellow Rebels relay-team members. Fairfax won both the 200-yard medley relay and the 200 free relay, setting school and Concorde District records in both events. Baumgardner swam the second leg of the 200 medley and — along with junior Laura Benevento, senior Emily Ferguson and junior Kristina Massie — helped her squad finish first in 1:49.98. Baumgardner swam the first leg of the 200 free ahead of sophomores Frances Dowd, Jean DeOrnellas and Theresa Harvey. That group won in 1:38.96, shattering the previous district record by more than two seconds. Both relays featured state-qualifying and automatic All-American times.
“That’s the best part of high school swimming to me,” said Baumgardner. “Having the chance to win a relay race and be part of a team like that is amazing. I’m really happy with what we did.”
And Baumgardner wasn’t finished. She won the 100-yard breaststroke in 1:03.60, winning by more than two seconds and setting yet another district record in the process. Baumgartner also placed third in the 200 individual medley (2:12.06), another state-qualifying time.
Championship Week
» All four Virginia Group AAA Northern Region district championships were held last Saturday. Langley’s girls (406 points) and Jefferson’s boys (456 points) won the Liberty District title. Yorktown’s boys (365) and girls (583) swept the National District meet, Lake Braddock’s boys (437) and girls (584) swept the Patriot District meet and Robinson’s boys (586) and girls (453) did the same at the Concorde District meet.
» Robinson’s boys set Concorde District records in the 200-yard medley relay (1:37.68) and the 200 free (1:25.73) and 400 free relays (3:11.64).
» Robinson senior Zach Holmes (Virginia Tech) set district records in the 50 free (20.87) and 100 free (46.06).
