Kingwood’s Varsity swimming and diving began the 2010-2011 season with strong finishes against 11 Houston area teams to win the Atascocita High School Early Bird Invitational held on October 16th.   The reigning state champion Kingwood High School women placed first with a score of 678,  followed by Atascocita High with 318 points.  The boys also finished in first place with a score of 553, followed by Kingwood Park High School boys with a 452.  There was a healthy cross-town rivalry between Kingwood High School and Kingwood Park High School that brought outstanding performances from both teams.  Each team was often seen cheering for the opposing team throughout the meet.  Coach Russell Duin said, “Great early season meet. Kids looked good.  Good confidence builder with 4 pool records being broken.”

First year divers, Greg Lupton and Laramie Poldrack, and returning Junior Diver Conrad Nerey placed in the top 10 out of 21 divers taking 1st, 4th, and 10th respectively.  Senior Greg Lupton, an outstanding gymnast and pole-vaulter, had a stellar  performance scoring 213.5 in his first meet as a diver.  His top dive was a reverse 2 somersault  in  pike position.

Outstanding performances were swum by Juniors Jamie Friderichs, Jill Vitarius, Jordan Jones, and Senior Patrick Pash who each won every event that they swam. Jamie Friderichs won the 100 Freestyle, and set the meet record while winning the 50 Freestyle.  Jill Vitarius easily won the 200 Freestyle and the 100 backstroke.  Jordan Jones won the 500 freestyle, and set the meet and pool record in the 200 freestyle.  Patrick Pash won both the 50 and 100 Freestyle events.   Sophmore Leah Pfitzer set a meet record while winning the 100 Fly with a time of 58.95, while Hayden Polenz set the meet record in the 100 back with a 52.59.    All six of these swimmers were on relays that broke both pool and meet records.

The Kingwood High School Girls 200 Medley Relay  swam by Jill Vitarius, Danielle Meara, Leah Pfitzer, Jamie Friderichs  won while setting both the meet and pool record with a time of 1:50.33.   The relays continued their domination by winning the 200 Free Relay with Leah Pfitzer, Katheryn Nolen, Lisa Swank, and Jamie Friderichs and the 400 Free Relay with Camille Luhrs, Lisa Swank, Lauren Day, and Jill Vitarius. Other individual female winners were Danielle Meara in the 200IM, and Lauren Day in the 500 freestyle.

The KHS men continue the winning ways with an exceptional swim by Reed Dalton, who won the 200IM, and Will Oswald who placed second in the 500 freestyle.  The men’s 400 Free Relay swam by  Jordan Jones, Anthony Ishikawa, Hayden Polenz, and  Patrick Pash   won with a time of 3:15.56.

Boy Races:
200 Free 1. Jordan Jones 1:41.53-pool and meet
500 Free 1. Jordan Jones 4:38.29, 2. Will Oswald
200IM 1. Reed Dalton
50 Free  1. Patrick Pash  22.45
100 Free 1. Patrick Pash  48.91
100 Back 1. Hayden Polenz 52.59 meet record
Boys 400 Free Relay: Jordan Jones, Anthony Ishikawa, Hayden Polenz, Patrick Pash   3:15.56
Pool Records:
Girls 200 Medley Relay  Jill Vitarius, Danielle Meara, Leah Pfitzer, Jamie Friderichs   1:50.33
Boys 200 Free Relay: Patrick Pash, Hayden Polenz, Mark Bergmeister, Jordan Jones 1:28.12
Boys 200 Free: Jordan Jones  1:41.53

Girl Races:
200 Free Relay: Leah Pfitzer, Katheryn Nolen, Lisa Swank, Jamie Friderichs
400 Free Relay: Camille Luhrs, Lisa Swank, Lauren Day, Jill Vitarius
200 Free 1. Jill Vitarius  1:55.96
100 Back 1. Jill Vitarius 56.74
200IM  1. Danielle Meara 2:16.35
50 Free 1. Jamie Friderichs 24.65 meet record
100 Free 1. Jamie Friderichs  53.99
100 Fly 1. Leah Pfitzer 58.95 Meet record
500 Free 1. Lauren Day 5:23.61, 2. Caitlyn Luhrs, 3.Meredith Ray, 4.Camille Luhrs