Swimming
SPY, formerly known as the Severna Park YMCA swim team, gained more national exposure when its 10-and-under girls 200-yard freestyle relay team was recognized by Swimming World Magazine and U.S. Swimming for recording the No. 1 time in the country for its age group.
The foursome of Anna Kavetsky of Crofton, Kathleen Nelson of Crofton, Christina Wise of Severna Park and Laine Harris of Annapolis took the top position in the 200 freestyle relay with a time of 1 minute, 53.31 seconds -- just two-tenths of a second off the national record. The team recorded the national mark at the Eastfield Championship last March in Princeton, N.J.
"It's amazing," said SPY coach Ken Barsa. "The girls worked hard to get where they are and it's great to see them finally get recognized."
Also ranked in U.S. Swimming's Top 16 were Nora Grannell of Crofton, who placed fifth in the 17-18 girls 100 backstroke (56.58) and Harris, who is 15th in the country in the 50 backstroke (31.28).
Comprised of swimmers from all parts of Anne Arundel County, the SPY swim team now practices at the Severna Park YMCA, the Severna Park Racquet Club and Anne Arundel Community College.
Last weekend, the team continued its dual-meet winning streak with a victory over the Harford County YMCA.
Ryan Bruce was a triple winner for SPY, taking first in the 8-and-under boys 25 freestyle (15.76), 25 butterfly (17.06) and 25 backstroke (19.45). Other triple winners for Severna Park were Matt Chaffin, Mike Taylor, Chris Scheier, Rachel Bruce and Kathleen Nelson.
Chaffin, competing in the 11-12 boys age group, took first in the 200 freestyle (2:16.53), 50 butterfly (30.81) and 50 breaststroke (37.65). Taylor competed in the 13-14 boys bracket and claimed first in the 200 freestyle (1:59.96), 200 intermediate medley (2:12.05) and 100 breaststroke (1:10.18).
Scheier, competing in the 15-18 boys bracket, was first in the 200 IM (2:09.75), 100 butterfly (55.66) and 100 freestyle (52.44), while Bruce competed in the 8-and-under girls competition and won the 25 freestyle (15.17), 25 butterfly (18.33) and 50 freestyle (34.47).
Nelson rounded out the triple winners by taking first in the 9-10 girls 50 freestyle (29.27), 100 IM (1:16.47) and 50 backstroke (36.19).
Double-winners for SPY were Eric Buntz (9-10 boys), Dan Clemson (11-12 boys), Laine Harris (11-12 girls) and Katie Permenter (15-18 girls). Buntz won the 50 freestyle (29.87) and 100 freestyle (1:08.58) while Clemson took first in the 200 IM (2:42.69) and 100 freestyle (1:05.28).
Harris won the 50 freestyle (27.67) and 50 butterfly (30.72) and Permenter won the 50 freestyle (26.02) and 100 freestyle (56.70).
Kyle Fondren won the 8-and-under boys 25 breaststroke in 21.62 and Andrew Wilson, competing in the 9-10 boys age group, took first in the 50 backstroke in 38.28. Ryan Fondren, Kyle's older brother, won the 9-10 boys 50 breaststroke in 43.42 and Eric Bond won the 13-14 boys 100 butterfly in 1:04.75.
Chad Fondren helped SPY by winning the 13-15 boys 100 backstroke (1:10.59) and Robert Fowler helped Severna Park's cause with a first-place finish in the 200 freestyle (1:56.86).
Alison Schaffer, competing in the 8-and-under girls bracket, won the 25 backstroke (20.15) and teammate Patricia Magnuson won the 8-and-under girls 25 breaststroke (21.59). Other first-place winners for Severna Park were Meghan McGuire, Sarah E. Schaffer, Elizabeth Fowler, Sarah Schaffer, Katie DiBlasi, Laura Bodine, Kristin Nelson, Kim Kessel, Missy Haynie, April Pish, Stacy Smith and Lisa Dillinger.
Second-place finishers for SPY were Troy McClelland, Billy Kessel, Paul Tignor, Danny Kessel, Rob Fowler, Eric Bond, Jeff Mayer, Chad Fondren, Dan Clemson, Tommy Holt, Chet Goudy, Ryan Stiltner, Hayes Magnuson, Ryan Hoffmaster, Paul Magnuson, Andrew Wilson, Kyle Fondren, Kathryn Fryer, Erin Sykes, Kristin Child, Alison Lieby, Sarah Cunningham and Beth Pallota.
Indoor soccer
* 12-and-under boys -- The Arundel Strike Force and the Arundel Soccer Association Lightning have been invited to play in an exhibition game during halftime of the Baltimore Spirit-Harrisburg Heat National Professional Soccer League game on Friday, Feb. 3 at the Baltimore Arena.
The two ASA teams, which play their outdoor
games at Millersville Elementary School and their indoor games at Myer's Pavilion and the Sports Palace in Columbia, will square off for approximately 15 minutes.
Anyone wishing to pick up tickets for the Spirit game at a discount rate should call Diane Osborn at (410) 721-2764.
Dustin Page scored two goals last weekend for the Strike Force, but it wasn't enough as it bowed to Harundale, 5-3, at Myer's Pavilion.
Kevin Funk added one goal for ASA and Chris Osborn was credited with an assist. Other standouts for ASA included goalie Danny Korpon and forwards Patrick Whitmire, Nick Haramis and Franklin MacDonald.
Ice hockey
The Chesapeake Chiefs Bantam A ice hockey team, with Gene Battista and Derek Wade leading the way, swept three games last week in the Delaware Valley Hockey League. The three victories brought the Chiefs' league record to 13-1.
Battista scored the Chiefs' first two goals and had an assist in a 5-3 victory over the Wilkes Barre (Pa.) team Saturday afternoon.
Home-standing Wilkes Barre took a 3-2 lead early in the third period, but Chris Scott tied the score at the 7-minute mark and Peter Bafkas got the game-winner with 4:22 remaining. Tim Moore scored into an empty net with five seconds left to provide the final margin.
The Chiefs had an easier time in their second game on Saturday, beating a Wissahickon Ice Club team, 6-1, in Chestnut Hill, Pa.
Wade led the scoring with two goals, while Rob Ross added a goal and two assists. Rounding out the scoring for the Chiefs were Dom DeSantis, Dan Green and Brian Rice with a goal apiece.
Wade and Battista each scored two goals in Sunday's 8-1 win over the Haverford (Pa.) Hawks. Rice, Green, DeSantis and Ross Conn each added a goal.
Basketball
8-10 boys: In the 8-10 Mark Price League, the Severna Park Terps and the Severna Park Tar Heels are leading the way in the Red Division at 2-0 while the Rebels and GARCI are atop the Blue Division with 2-0 records. GORC has sole possession of first place in the Green Division, also at 2-0.
In the Mitch Richmond 8-10 League, the Galesville Bullets, the Shady Side Tigers and the BW Suns all boast 2-0 records in the Red Division and the UYC Bulldogs are first in the Blue Division at 2-0.
The Mayo Pacers, Riva and Edgewater are tied for first in the Brian Shaw League while Davidsonville, UYC and Riva share first-place honors in the Nick Anderson League. Lake Shore and the Severn Heat are first in the Tim Hadaway League and Meade Village boasts the best record in the Kenny Anderson League.
12-and-under boys: The 12-and-under league boasts similar parity with the Annapolis All Stars and Annapolis Gardens sharing the lead the Stacey Augmon Red Division race. The Anne Arundel Optimists are in control in the Blue Division at 2-0.
Mount Olive and the Bullets share first in the Larry Johnson League's Red Division and Cape St. Claire leads the Blue Division.
GORC has sole possession of first place in the David Robinson 14-and-under League Red Division and Shady Side stands alone at the top of the Blue Division standings.
JPYO, the Fort Meade Spurs and the Bears are tied for first in the Blue Division of the Jim Jackson League and EGBAC, JPYO, the Fort Meade Bulls and the Fort Meade Lakers are all 2-0 in the Jamal Mashburn League.
Gymnastics
Joanna Wentz of Gambrills was one of eight gymnasts representing the first-place Rebounders team at last weekend's Columbia Challenge.
Wentz, who recently finished second in the all-around at the Harford Holiday Gymnastics Invitational in Bel Air, earned a ribbon for her performance on bars.
"It wasn't my best meet, but winning first place as a team was a nice birthday present," said Wentz, a home-schooled fifth-grader who turned 10 last Sunday.
* Note: You can fax your Anne Arundel recreation results to (410) 783-2518. Please include first and last names of all participants.