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Area Swimmers Invited To U.S. Camp

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By NICHOLAS J.E. MURRAY nmurray@tampatrib.com

The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 18, 2009

BRANDON - Brandon Blue Wave swimmers Bailey Bowden and Merrill Wilson, both 13 years old, have been invited to the United States Swimming Zone Select Camp, to be held at the University of Louisville in May.

"They're two of the up-and-coming athletes in our program," Blue Wave coach Peter Banks said. "They've worked real hard to take it to the next level, and it's great to get a reward as such to be among their peers when they go to one of these camps."

The camp is made up of 224 swimmers from across the country, and is designed to give USA Swimming officials and coaches the chance to get a first-hand look at upcoming athletes. Banks said the camp provides USA Swimming with a chance to identify and then track talent that one day may become a member of a junior national team.

"When they send them to these camps, they have their race coaches there, people from USA Swimming that talk about the different things they might want to strive for to get to that next Olympic level or national level," Banks said.

Banks added that he hoped both girls would learn from the experience, and retain that when they return to Brandon.

"It inspires them, hopefully, to get to that next level," Banks said. "We've had some go before to those camps, Jason Taylor and those kids, and they've found out a large part of what it takes to go to that next level, and become better athletes, and help their teammates, because if they get to that next level, so do their teammates."

Wilson, who was named Florida Swimming's short course and long course Swimmer of the Year in the under-12 division last year, and Bowden are following in the footsteps of Blue Wave standouts Taylor, Tyler Ball and Eric Moore. Taylor was recently named to the U.S. Junior National team after winning three gold medals at the U.S. Junior Championships last year. Banks thinks Bowden and Wilson have the ability to follow a similar path.

"I definitely think they are driving towards that national level next," Banks said. "They will be competing at the Florida Junior Olympics next weekend, and hopefully by this summer they will be at the junior national level swimming, that's what they're aspiring to."

Pelicans Rugby Downs Rival Barbarians, 19-16

TAMPA - The defending state champion Tampa Pelicans remained undefeated in the Florida Youth Rugby North Division with a 19-16 win against the Tampa Barbarians on Saturday afternoon.

The Pelicans never trailed, getting tries from Cameron Rude, Jake McFadden and Steve Wertepny to defeat their local rival.

"It was a pretty good game, well contested between both teams," Pelicans coach Dave McFadden said. "Either team could easily have won."

Rude opened the scoring from 20 yards out after being released by prop Charles Messal to score in the corner. After a Barbarians penalty goal by Charlie Hutchings cut the lead to 5-3, McFadden added to the Pelicans' lead by scoring on a quick tap penalty from close in.

Dion Opperman made the conversion to give the Pelicans a 12-3 lead, and although the Barbarians would cut their lead to 12-11 at one point, Dave McFadden said he wasn't overly concerned that his team had lost a grip on the game.

"I wouldn't say we were comfortably in the lead because we only won by three points," McFadden said. "But I felt like we had the momentum the whole game. We had the first try, they were able to stay on our heels the whole game, but I felt pretty confident with the way our offense was going."

Ben Nakamura scored both tries for the Barbarians, and Barbarians coach Mark Van Trees said the two mistakes his team made was the difference in the game.

"We made two mistakes, and we paid for it," Van Trees said.

The biggest mistake led to Wertepny's try. While pinned deep in their own half, the Barbarians tried to kick to clear their lines, but it was charged down, allowing Wertepny to gather and score, giving the Pelicans a 19-11 lead. Despite that, Van Trees said he was pleased with his team's effort.

"Everyone gave as best as they could," Van Trees said. "I was real proud of them."

Plant Lacrosse Has Strong Opening Week

TAMPA - Plant High Lacrosse got off to a strong start in the West Florida Lacrosse League with a 16-5 win against Clearwater before an 8-7 win against FishHawk in the opening week of the season.

The Panthers still have standout forwards C.J. Casselli and Garrett German leading the team, but elsewhere, Coach John Shaw has had some holes to fill with the graduations of players like middie Cameron Von Thron and defenseman Ben Ebaugh. Shaw, however, isn't concerned the players filling those roles will be overmatched.

"We have a pretty fantastic feeder program," Shaw said. "We have guys coming up from junior varsity and varsity 'B' that obviously aren't going to fill a Cameron Von Thron or Ben Ebaugh's shoes, but will give it their best shot."

Shaw said players like Peter Wilkins and Travis Johnson, both seniors who have switched to midfield roles, have played well to start the season. The Panthers, who are looking for their fourth straight WFLL title, could get some strong competition from teams like Citrus Park, FishHawk Ranch and Wesley Chapel, all of whom are in the state top 10 in laxpower.com's early season rankings. Shaw, however, welcomes the strengthened opposition.

"Citrus Park appears to have made great improvement this year," Shaw said. "It's just going to bring more competition to this neck of the woods, and more competition is going to make you better."

Nicholas J.E. Murray can be reached at (813) 259-8243.

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