It used to be the Yorktown Patriots couldn’t win a region championship. The girls high-school swimming and diving team would finish first in district and state meets, but not the region.
No more.
Saturday night (Feb. 15), Yorktown won its fourth straight 6D North Region crown, and in dominating fashion, at Oakmont Rec Center.
The Patriots amassed a point total of 436, well ahead of the runner-up Oakton Cougars with 319. The third-place Langley Saxons were even farther back with 226.
“The region would always elude us,” Yorktown coach Torey Ortmayer told ARLnow. “But the last few years, this team has figured out how to win this meet. We have been able to spread out the talent more in meets and execute better.”
The 436 points were the most Yorktown scored during its run of four straight region crowns. In this season’s competition, Yorktown won six individual races and all three relays.
Lila Sherman and Mary Hecmanczuk were double race-winners for the Patriots, and swam on winning relays. Sherman won the 200 (1:51.33) and 500 (4:56.58) freestyle races. Hecmanczuk was first in the 50 (23.95) and 100 (51.63) free events.
Corey McKenzie won the 100 backstroke (54.8) and was fifth in the 50 free, and Sophie Fredericks was first in the 100 butterfly (55.36) and second in the back.
Other big finishes went to Jackie Furches with a third in the 200 free and fourth in the 500 free and Nora Sherman with a fourth in the individual medley and sixth in the back. Jay Young was third in the 500 free and ninth in the breast, and Emory Haynes was fifth in the breast.
Emme Cobb was 10th in the 100 free, Katherine Schmitt was 12th in the 500 free, Elizabeth Pilot was 13th in the back and 14th in the fly, and Alaina Desautels finished 15th in the 50 free.
“We have become better at distance events over the years, like Jay Young in the 500, and our cycle of swimming depth develops and rises over the years, like Emory Haynes and Emme Cobb,” Ortmayer said.
In the relays, Yorktown won the medley in 1:45.64, the 200 free in 1:36.56 and the 400 free in 3:34.
McKenzie, Haynes, Fredericks and Cobb made up the medley. Fredericks, McKenzie, Hecmanczuk and Lila Sherman swam on the 200 free. The 400 free consisted of Hecmanczuk, Furches, Desautels and Lila Sherman.
A strong performance by Yorktown divers significantly boosted the team’s point total. Cecilia Yen finished third, Cate Lawler fifth, Stella Barclay ninth and Arissona Winn 10th.
“Putting four divers in the top 10, our dive coaches have done a great job,” Ortmayer said.
Next Yorktown will try to end its season by winning a third straight Virginia High School League Class 6 state championship.
