CHAMPIONS

CHRIS HUMPHREYS
Published: August 2, 2008

The Hill City Dolphins finally broke through to claim their first Lynchburg Aquatic League Championship Meet title in team history after 36 years, with a rather decisive victory Saturday at Oakwood Country Club to finish off a perfect season after going 6-0 in the during the season.

The Dolphins dominated the relays to out-distance second place Peakland 434.5 to 366. In the ten relay events, Hill City had seven first-place finishes and a second and a third place finish to account for 116 of the team’s 434.5 points. No other team won more than one relay or had more than three second-place finishes.

“The kids have just been really excited for today since we won the first couple of big meets earlier this season and realized we had a chance (to win) to do it,” Hill City coach Hank Reed said. “The kids’ expectations for today were they could do it and they came out here and did it.”

Said Dolphins’ graduating senior swimmer Collin Conrad: “It was a lot fun and it’s a nice way to go out. We knew we had chance coming in today. The last few years we’ve kept building up and building up. We knew this year was going to be the year if we were going to do it.”

Hill City also had five swimmers win multiple events. Devin Creger won the 50-meter free (33.26), the 25 fly (17.01) and the 100 IM (1:25.73) events in the boys’ 9-10 age group. Alyssa Reed won the 25 fly (in a record time of 16.12), the 25 back (18.33) and the 100 IM (1:23.71) in the girls’ 9-10 age group.

Ainsley Reed won the 100 free (1:06.55), the 100 back (1:13.01) and the 50 free (29.72) in the girls 13-14 age group.  In the boys 15 and up group, Carter Watson won the 100 fly (1:01.11), the 50 free (24.82) and the 50 fly (27.75) and Kemp Pettyjohn won the 50 back (30.08) and the 100 back (1:03.97).

“(This first title) is big,” Pettyjohn said. “No other Hill City team has done it, so that makes us the best. It’s just really nice.”

Though Hill City has swimmers from different high school’s swim teams, the Dolphins were clearly united in their victory.

Jefferson Forest’s Watson led Hill City in their post-meet, celebratory cheer in the pool while holding the trophy high over his head as he was joined by Brookville teammates Collin Conrad and Kemp Pettyjohn and Bees’ coach Hank Reed. 

“I just love the camaraderie we have with everybody,” Carter said. “The cheering, the team spirit, it’s just great. I love it all. We’ve been waiting for this so long and have been so close with getting second’s and third (place finishes) to finally get to hold that trophy over my head was awesome.”

Said Reed: “We are located right on the line between Bedford County and Campbell County and Heritage isn’t too far away. It’s a nice mix of what I like to say is good families. We are family oriented team and a lot of the kids swimming on the team had parents that swam for Hill City. Most the kids aren’t in high school yet, but it is a pleasure to get to work with the kids from JF, Brookville and Heritage.”