2021 SUN Preps All-Area Athletes & Teams
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Page 24 www.yoursun.com By PATRICK OBLEY SPORTS WRITER I T COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH, MUCH WORSE. At the beginning of the school year, the prep swimming season appeared to be in a somewhat dubious proposition. Some teams had just been cleared to jump in the pool days before the season's start. Others were only getting 45 minutes of practice. Most were not allowed to compete in invitationals and were told to stay very close to home. Coaches openly wondered if postseason competition was going to happen virtually, with teams in their own pools turning in times to the FHSAA. The swim- mers themselves missed out on the camaraderie of hanging out together away from the pool, suffered through lightning delays in which they were not allowed to seek shelter in locker rooms and, most of all, were left to compete largely against themselves to improve their times. Out of all this: Many superlative performances and a couple of terrific showings at the state meets. On the boys' side, Venice's Amadeusz Knop dazzled at the Class 4A state meet with a top-five finish. Lemon Bay's Becket Koss nosed himself into Swimmer of the Year territory as a part of the Mantas' fearsome foursome that made a splash at state. Charlotte's James Rose also earned his way into the conversation with a strong posteason push. On the girls' side, Venice's Sarah Sensenbrenner excelled at the Class 4A state meet with high-level finishes. Joining Sensenbrenner as girls' Swimmer of the Year finalists were Lemon Bay's Meghan Brown, the Mantas' sole state representative, and Sensenbrenner's teammate, Sarah Koenig. As for Coach of the Year, there could only be one — Venice's Jana Minorini, who guided the Venice boys to a seventh-place finish at state while the girls finished 13th. Venice was the only local team to send enough swimmers to state in order to point highly in both girls and boys competition. Boys First Team Becket Koss (Lemon Bay Sophomore) Koss is now two-for-two in his high school career when it comes to earning a spot on The Sun's first team. This year, though, he vaulted himself into Swimmer of the Year discussion with a strong all-around performance at the state meet. Koss finished 12th in the 100 free and 16th in the 200 individual medley. He also participated on the Lemon Bay's 200 free relay team that streaked to a fourth-place finish and helped out with the 200 medley team that finished ninth. "He really committed to his events and the relays," Lemon Bay coach Dawn Hall said. "He is such a great competitor and I am looking forward to the next two years with him." James Rose (Charlotte Junior) Rose is on the All-Area first team for the second consecutive year after stepping into one of the leadership roles for the Tarpons swim team. A steady performer during the abbreviated regular season, Rose found an even higher gear when it mattered most. He reached the Class 3A state meet in two events, finishing 14th in the 100 backstroke after earning his way to state with a sixth-place finish at the Region 3 meet. Luka Kirill (Venice Junior) Kirill joined Knop on Venice's two state relay teams, earning a fifth-place finish in the 400 free relay and a ninth- place turn with the 200 medley relay. He also finished 12th in the 100 free. Cash Kruysman (Venice Junior) The diver parlayed his sixth-place finish in the Class 4A Region 2 meet into a ninth-place showing at the state meet and will return next season with a very good shot to nose his way into the state's top five. Joey Sacco (Lemon Bay Junior) After a pair of seventh-place finishes at the Class 2A Region 2 meet, Sacco vaulted to a 16th-place finish in the 200 free at state. He joined Koss on the state 200 medley and 200 free relay teams. Trey Scott (Lemon Bay Senior) The definition of a team leader, Scott stepped in to help the Mantas point in distance events this season. He earned a 10th-place finish in 500 free at state while teaming up with Koss and Sacco on Lemon Bay's state relay teams. Boys Second Team Max Eckerman (Venice sophomore) Part of Venice's state 200 medley and 400 freestyle teams and finished 10th in the state 200 individual medley. Jack Lambert (Venice junior) Part of Venice's 200 medley, 200 free and 400 free relay teams while finishing sixth in the 500 free. Karl Myers (Port Charlotte senior) Reached Class 3A state in the 100 free and 200 free. Tony Hensel (Port Charlotte sophomore) Competed in the 500 free and 100 back events at Class 3A state. Victor Fazler (Lemon Bay senior) Member of Mantas' state 200 medley and 200 free relay teams as well as finished 20th in the diving competition. Dylan Bechtold (Venice senior) Member of Venice's state 200 medley and 200 free relay teams and competed in the 500 free Brendan Held (Venice senior) Competed at state in the 100 free and was part of Venice's 200 and 400 free relay squads. SUN PREPS ALL-AREA BOYS & GIRLS SWIMMING TEAM Player of the year Amadeusz Knop (Venice Sophomore) There was a hint of what was to come with Knop when he earned All-Area second-team honors a year ago as a freshman, reaching the state meet in two events. This year, Knop factored heavily into two top-performing relay teams and dazzled in a pair of individual events at the Class 4A state meet. Knop recorded fourth-place finishes in the 200 individual medley and 100 backstroke, while pitching in to lift the 400 free relay team to a fifth-place finish and the 200 medley team to ninth place. "With him only being a sophomore, that says something," Venice coach Jana Minorini said. "His is a racer, very driven and disciplined and will rise to the occasion." KNOP Indians, Mantas led the way SEE SWIMMING, 25