THE SPORTS DESK
Prep Swimming Notepad: JM boys remain strong, while girls catch up
SEE ALSO: Season’s Top Times
Last season, the James Monroe boys swim team enjoyed an undefeated regular season and then won its first Battlefield District title since 1999.
Yellow Jackets head coach Jordan Filchock said the girls team, which finished third at the district meet last season, took note of the accomplishment, and it has pushed them to improve this year.
“Our boys and girls are currently undefeated, which is a step up from last year,” she said. “I know last year the girls might of felt a little overshadowed by the boys, so that has definitely motivated them.”
The girls team lost some important contributors from last season’s squad, but Filchock said an influx of strong freshman swimmers—which includes Allison Slominski and Maggie Stoffel—has helped fill the holes.
The boys team has also had some newcomers, such as freshman Matthew Howard, step right in to keep it at a high level.
“We lost some key seniors from last year, but we’ve replaced them with strong or even stronger swimmers now,” Filchock said.
Returnees such as junior Noland Butler on the girls side, and junior Peter Stoffel and sophomore Brad Allison on the boys team have also been key factors to this season’s start.
A strong point for both groups so far has also been their relay teams. The Yellow Jackets currently boast top-six area times in five of six relay events on the young season.
The boys 400 free relay team of Brad Allison, Nye Lott, Howard and Stoffel holds the top spot in the area (3:32.51), while the same four swimmers has the second-best 200 free relay time (1:33.29), just .46 second behind the top time.
Filchock said she expected those events to be strengths this season, especially for the boys team, after strong showings last season.
“Coming off last year when the boys 400 free relay was fifth in the state, we were definitely looking to continue that,” she said.
James Monroe won’t have another meet until after the holiday break, but both teams will continue to work hard during that time frame.
Filchock said they will practice all this week at their home pool at the University of Mary Washington and then, other than some possible time in the water at Regency Pool, the team will be given stuff to work on on their own until school starts back up.
The time off isn’t a concern for Filchock, who said she knows her squad will stay motivated to keep improving.
“They enjoy working with each and motivate each other,” she said. “And I’m having fun watching them swim.”
—Tom Leiss
