Bearden swims to city title
Tipton breaks 19-year-old meet record in 200 freestyle
By JOHN SHEARER, Special to the Knoxville News Sentinel, February 4, 2007 Copyright 2007
The U.S. Army used to advertise that it did more before 9 a.m. than most people do all day. Bearden High
School's A.J. Tipton can now boast that he accomplished more in his first two events at the Knox-Area
Interscholastic Swim League meet Saturday than most swimmers do in a career.
The junior swam the backstroke on Bearden's meet record-setting 200-yard individual medley team in the first
event at the UT Aquatic Center, and then broke a 19-year-old meet record in winning the 200 freestyle in the
second event with a time of 1 minute, 43.19 seconds. The eclectic swimmer missed the record by .03 of a second
in winning the 100 butterfly in 50.83. He also was a member of the record-setting 400 free relay (3:16.55). "A.J. is
one of the fastest 16- or 17-year-olds in the country in two events," said Bearden coach Lauren Hancock. Tipton
and the rest of the Bulldogs helped vault Bearden to a first-place finish in the team competition with 747 points.
They were followed by Webb (657.5), Farragut (623), Maryville (407), and Sevier County (305)
"We knew it was going to be a tight meet," Hancock said. "It is always big with Farragut, Webb and Bearden."
Rounding out the top 10 were Christian Academy of Knoxville (304.5), Berean Christian (285), Catholic (216),
West (195), and Cleveland (172).
Other multiple winners included Cameron Higdon of Bearden (500 free, 200 individual medley, 200 medley relay,
400 freestyle relay), Claire Galdun of Webb (200 free, 500 free, 200 free relay, 400 free relay), Bo Fethe of
Bearden (200 medley relay, 100 breaststroke), Jen Muhlehim of Webb (200 free relay, 400 freee relay), and
Katie Keel of Webb (200 medley relay, 50 free, 200 free relay). Jace Howanitz of Catholic set a meet record in the
girls 200 individual medley (2:05.33) and also won the 100 free.
The most exciting race - in terms of closeness and crowd noise - was the boys 200 free relay, as Webb won by
.08 seconds over Bearden. The girls 500 free more closely resembled the 50 free in separation between first and
second, as Galdun won by less than a second over Kennedy Higdon of Bearden.
Letsinger dives to city title for third time
South-Doyle's Pierce edges Sanders
By JOHN SHEARER, Special to the News Sentinel February 3, 2007 Copyright 2007
Catholic High School senior Sean Letsinger was a quick study Friday night at the Knox-area Interscholastic Swim
League meet. He would check the replay monitor sitting next to the pool after every attempt at the UT Aquatic
Center. "I set that up," he said. "That is my baby." The electronic coaching must have helped, as the University of
Tennessee signee barely defeated a late-surging Brent Sterling of Central, 551.15 to 531.85, to win his third city
championship.
The 11-round event had some 11th-hour drama in the girls' division as well, as UT signee Jill Pierce of
South-Doyle came back in the latter stages to pull out a .65-point win over teammate Skye Sanders. Also finishing
just behind Pierce's 421 points was Tori Lamp of Bearden (413.25), who had led during the early rounds. "I hit a
few dives but I also missed some," said Pierce, a three-time city and two-time state champion. "I just tried to stay
mentally in the game."
Letsinger had to overcome not only stiff competition from Sterling, but also some tendinitis and knee ailments that
were compounded by a recent automobile accident. The two-time defending state champion did not break his
record of 571.90 set last year, but he was still able to break into a smile after all the adversity. "I was very
pleased," he said. "I have been out of the water for a month and a half because of injuries." In fact, he was to
take his first pool practice in six weeks on Monday, but a power outage at UT put that off until Friday at noon.
Finishing third in the boys was home-schooled student Marty Moore (388.60), followed by James Dail of Bearden
(298.35), Kevin Schoonover of Catholic (259.50), Reed Kramer of Webb (250.35), Aaron Curmi of Catholic
(246.40), and Tony Gianeselli of Farragut (245.20).
The other finishers in the girls' division were Carly Reed of Bearden (322.80) in fourth, followed by Ruth Hahn of
Bearden (319.10), Jessie Campbell of Maryville (295.15), McLean Widmer of Bearden (282.70), and Kali
Reynolds of Farragut (271).
The KISL swimming championships will take place at UT all day today, with the finals set for 6 p.m.