Middleton, Fla. — The Villages High School swimming and diving team dominated a head-to-head meet with Mount Dora on Thursday in Middleton.

The Buffalo ran away with a sweep over the visiting Hurricanes, with the boys picking up a 126-50 win and the girls cruising to a 118-61 victory at the VHS Aquatics Center. Both teams are now 3-0 this season.

In total, VHS swimmers placed first in 18 of 22 events, while the Buffalo also cleaned up in relays winning five of the six team races. The Villages also received 14 points as the lone participant in the diving portion of the meet.

"We're dropping times and the kids are excited," said VHS head coach Jacqui Mitchell. "That's our goal every week. It's not win or lose, it's do your best to drop time. You're individually swimming in events out there and you need to do the work to improve – and they're all doing it."

The biggest drop in time for VHS came in the 500-yard freestyle, where Keagan Woodward won but Greyson Roy posted a time of 6:47.35 – nearly a full 30 seconds better than his previous best. Leighanna Bellah also posted a personal-best performance in the girls' 500 freestyle, as her time of 7:20.95 was good for first place and 18.75 seconds better than her previous mark.

Lara Braganza finished atop the podium four times, while the trio of Bellah, Ella Dariano and Laine Langenbrunner all each contributed to three first-place finishes for VHS.

Over on the boys side, the trio of Aaron Nacaxe, Ryan Faso and Lucas Braganza each picked up individual wins and contributed to relay victories, as well.

"I think the kids are looking really good," Mitchell said. "We had a really tough workout on Tuesday, coming off the Labor Day holiday on Monday, and they were all really focused which is good to see."

It was Dariano, along with Sebastian Price and Bella McDowell, who racked up the maximum points possible in the diving portion on Thursday. Dariano posted a final score of 161.5 to pace the group.

"They've made huge jumps," Mitchell said of the diving program. "They're just getting cleaner and sharper, and their entries are so much better. Listen, when you're here and all eyes are on you, it's nerve-racking – but they've been doing a good job."

The Villages will now turn its attention to its next opponent, as Tavares comes to town for a 5 p.m. meet on Sept. 11 at the VHS Aquatics Center in Middleton.


Cody Hills can be reached for questions or comment via email at cody.hills@tvcs.org.