NewsAthleticsUpper SchoolStudent LifeService
A swim for Anna, Hannah
Jan 13, 2006 9:17 AM
By Tannika King - Faculty
Written by Jeff Gable, Rome News-Tribune Sports Writer, published 1/13/06
Thursday [Jan. 12] was Darlington School’s first swim meet since the Christmas break. It was probably a little more anticipated than usual for the team.
After a difficult December, in which the Darlington squad lost two team members in a plane crash in Florida, the Tigers and Lady Tigers were back in the pool, hosting Etowah and Cherokee. And while both the boys and girls teams placed third overall, the chance to get back into action was welcomed.
“Swimming has helped us, I think,” said junior Michelle Picon. “It’s been a chance for us to release some energy and focus on something positive. “When something like this happens, it’s good to have a team there to support you. You really feel how close a team and the school and a place like Rome can be, and it helps a lot.”
During Thursday’s meet, many of the Darlington swimmers had the names and initials of Hannah Tillman and Anna Kipp — their lost team members — written on their arms. “It was just something the team came up with together,” Picon said. “It’s a point of encouragement, and something to show that they won’t be forgotten.”
Head coach Alan Parish said that despite the layoff and the difficult circumstances surrounding the tragedy, the Darlington team is still progressing.
“We have about half our team that has never before swam competitively, and all of them have shown improvement,” he said. “I’m pleased with our times. These are the two best teams we’ve competed against this year. We have a lot of kids with natural talent who are very competitive, and they’re working really hard.”
Etowah won the meet with 300 total points, with Cherokee in second with 201 and Darlington in third with 131.
Picon had a solid day for the Lady Tigers, taking second in the girls’ 200 yard individual medley and third in the 100 backstroke. Natalie Maffett took third in the 50 freestyle and the 100 freestyle, and Peter Hjort took second in the boys’ 100 breaststroke.
Two of the Lady Tigers’ relay teams took third, the 200 free relay team (Picon, Maffett, Julia Douglas and Alexandra Dodd) and the 400 free relay team (Maffett, Maggie Sitton, Betsy Goldin and Elexene Mattingly).
In the diving portion of the meet, Darlington’s Landon Watters won first place for the girls (199.45), while the Tigers’ Clint Monteith took first for the boys (99.6).
Darlington is back in action next Thursday, traveling to Rome to take on the Wolves and the Dalton Catamounts.
Thursday [Jan. 12] was Darlington School’s first swim meet since the Christmas break. It was probably a little more anticipated than usual for the team.
After a difficult December, in which the Darlington squad lost two team members in a plane crash in Florida, the Tigers and Lady Tigers were back in the pool, hosting Etowah and Cherokee. And while both the boys and girls teams placed third overall, the chance to get back into action was welcomed.
“Swimming has helped us, I think,” said junior Michelle Picon. “It’s been a chance for us to release some energy and focus on something positive. “When something like this happens, it’s good to have a team there to support you. You really feel how close a team and the school and a place like Rome can be, and it helps a lot.”
During Thursday’s meet, many of the Darlington swimmers had the names and initials of Hannah Tillman and Anna Kipp — their lost team members — written on their arms. “It was just something the team came up with together,” Picon said. “It’s a point of encouragement, and something to show that they won’t be forgotten.”
Head coach Alan Parish said that despite the layoff and the difficult circumstances surrounding the tragedy, the Darlington team is still progressing.
“We have about half our team that has never before swam competitively, and all of them have shown improvement,” he said. “I’m pleased with our times. These are the two best teams we’ve competed against this year. We have a lot of kids with natural talent who are very competitive, and they’re working really hard.”
Etowah won the meet with 300 total points, with Cherokee in second with 201 and Darlington in third with 131.
Picon had a solid day for the Lady Tigers, taking second in the girls’ 200 yard individual medley and third in the 100 backstroke. Natalie Maffett took third in the 50 freestyle and the 100 freestyle, and Peter Hjort took second in the boys’ 100 breaststroke.
Two of the Lady Tigers’ relay teams took third, the 200 free relay team (Picon, Maffett, Julia Douglas and Alexandra Dodd) and the 400 free relay team (Maffett, Maggie Sitton, Betsy Goldin and Elexene Mattingly).
In the diving portion of the meet, Darlington’s Landon Watters won first place for the girls (199.45), while the Tigers’ Clint Monteith took first for the boys (99.6).
Darlington is back in action next Thursday, traveling to Rome to take on the Wolves and the Dalton Catamounts.
