Landfair keys Jay sweep (11/17/06)

ELWOOD - A year ago, the Patriots lost two events. And two days ago they dropped one.

Thursday they made sure there was nothing the opposition could hang its hat on.

Freshman Michelle Landfair used a strong finish to take the only event Elwood was close in Thursday as the Jay County girls swim team clobbered the host Panthers 145-34.

The 50-yard freestyle was one of only two races in which the Patriots, who swept five events, did not post a one-two finish, and the only one Elwood had a chance to win. However, after being locked in a dead heat at the turn, Landfair surged in the final 15 yards of the sprint to win by nearly a half-second.

"Michelle Landfair overheard me say the only events we lost last year were the 50 free and diving," said JCHS coach Bev Arnold. "She was bound and determined to not let that happen. That's pretty good from a freshman.

"If there's a star of the meet tonight, it has to be Michelle."

Landfair, who picked up her first career victory Tuesday, earned her first double-play as she added a victory in the 100 freestyle in a career-best 1-minute, 4.05 seconds. Senior Tina Gingrasso and sophomore Christa Castillo were behind her in second and third for one of the Patriot sweeps.

April Acker scored 151.60 points to win the uncontested diving event over teammate Tricia Skiver (123.15).

Sophomore Cori Vormohr and senior Ashley Horn joined Landfair in winning a pair of individual events.

Vormohr went unchallenged, winning the 100 butterfly by a solid 15 yards with a time of 1:05.13 in front of teammates Briann Saxman and Maddie Fennig. She also dominated the 100 breaststroke in 1:13.95 with teammates Lauren Murrell and Kelci Reed second and third respectively.

Horn was in a fight for first for much of the 500 freestyle, leading by just a stroke after 100 yards. But she opened the lead slightly in the next 200 yards and then pulled away in the final 100 to win by more than six seconds in 6:50.22.

She also picked up the win in the 200 freestyle at 2:32.90 followed by teammates Ivy Simons and Murrell.

"I'm really pleased with times where they are right now, starting with that Norwell Invitational and with the mixed-up lineup we had in Tuesday night's meet," said Arnold. "Tonight they were more in their normal events and times were still good."

Simons paced Jay County's sweep in the 100 backstroke at 1:22.11 with Caitlin Ruchgy and Nikisha Imel second and third, and Saxman won the 200 individual medley in 2:48.45 for a one-two finish with Reed.

The Patriots took first and second in every relay with Landfair, Vormohr, Simons, Saxman and Gingrasso each in on a pair of relay victories.

Saxman, Gingrasso, Landfair and Vormohr dominated the final race of the night, winning the 400 freestyle relay in 4:27.98. Vormohr, Landfair, Simons and Murrell won the opening 200 medley relay in 2:14.58, and Simons, Saxman Gingrasso and Castillo took the 200 freestyle relay with a time of 2:04.74.

Arnold, whose team has consistently opened its season 2-0 in recent years, said she's optimistic about its chances to continue the success and end its streak of three straight sub-.500 seasons.

"I've already looked at some scores down the road," said Arnold. "We'll have to play with the lineup and try to squeak out some points ... If everything would go our way we would have a shot at Bluffton, Bellmont and Norwell. That would be wonderful because those people are in our sectional."

Jay County lost to each of those three teams last year, by an average of 29 points. It finished 2005-06 at 6-8 and was seventh in the 11-team sectional meet at Homestead.[[In-content Ad]]