Both the Langley High girls’ and boys’ swim/dive teams are enjoying highly successful seasons within the Liberty District this winter.
The Lady Saxons improved their record to 5-0 last Friday night when they defeated Madison, 207-108, in the meet held at Oak Marr Recreation Center. Both teams, Langley and Madison, entered the pivotal district meet with unbeaten 4-0 records. But it was the Saxons who emerged victorious, remaining unbeaten and having the inside track to the regular season title with just a couple of weeks remaining.
The Langley boys, meanwhile, experienced their first loss of the season on Friday when they fell to unbeaten and defending district champion Madison, 200-115. Over their first four meets this season, Langley had beaten McLean, Stone Bridge, Marshall and Fairfax.
Both the Langley girls’ and boys’ teams will meet South Lakes High this Friday night at Audrey Moore Recreation Center before closing out the regular season the following Friday (Jan. 21) versus Jefferson.
The district championships will be held the weekend of Jan. 28-29 at Audrey Moore.
“We have been having a great season so far,” said Langley head coach Ryan Jackson, of both his girls’ and boys’ squads.
The Langley squads have received strong leadership from their team captains - Meghan Overend, Karen Schirm, Christy Meyer, Alex Brumas, Chuck Katis, and Trager Metge.
“They have been instrumental in leading the team,” said Jackson.
Several Langley swimmers have qualified for the Virginia State Championships postseason meet, which will take the weekend of Feb. 18-19. For the Langley boys, both Chuck Katis and Ryan Natal have earned seedings at states – Katis in the 200-IM, 100-back, 100-free and 100-breastroke events; and Natal in the 100-fly, 50-free, 100-free and 200-free events. The boys’ 200-medley relay is also a state qualifier.
Meanwhile, on the girls’ side, three Saxon relays – the 200-medley, 200-free and 400-free – have earned state qualifications. Individual girls to earn state bids thus far have been Jayme Katis (200-IM) and Abi Speers (50 and 100-free races).
<B>NUMEROUS SAXON</B> swimmers have locked up seedings for the Northern Region Championships, which will take place the weekend of Feb. 3-5 at Oak Marr Recreation Center.
Chuck Katis has qualified to compete in the 200-IM, 100-back, 100-free and 100-breastroke events at regionals, while Natal has qualified in the 200-free, 100-fly, 50-free and 100-free races.
For the Langley girls, region qualifiers include Jayme Katis in the 200-IM, 100-free, 200-free; Meghan Overend in the 50-free, 100-fly, 100-back, 100-free, 200- free; Karen Schirm in the 100-breaststroke; Abi Speers in the 50-free, 100-free, 200-IM; and Allie Zeidan in the 200-free.