Winter Haven's Lambert Finishes Second in 50 Free

 

ORLANDO | Winter Haven's swim season ended on a bright note, while the Lakeland Dreadnaughts did not have their best day at the Class 2A state swim meet Saturday at the YMCA Aquatic Center in Orlando.

Blue Devils senior David Lambert was runner up in the 50 freestyle and sixth in the 100 freestyle while teammate James Voisard, a sophomore, placed fifth in diving. 

Lambert earned the All American title by virtue of his time in the 50 freestyle. 

By placing in the top five, Voisard can apply for All American status through a video and an application. 

After quitting swimming as an age-group swimmer, Lambert was inspired by watching Michael Phelps in the 2008 Olympics and returned to the sport. 

He swam 20.95 in the 50 free final, taking silver behind winner Ian Apple of Paxon-Jacksonville, who swam 20.74. 

Lambert won the 50 freestyle preliminary race in 20.86, a personal best. 

"I'll take second for now," he said. 

His time in the 100 freestyle final was 47.30, just shy of his personal best preliminary time of 47.10. 

"I got one goal and missed another," he said. "I wanted All American in the 50. I wanted a 47:00 for the 100."

Voisard, who broke his left arm during the summer while wake boarding, had been limited in his dive practices. 

He scored 399.45 points, two points out of fourth place. 

His third dive, a back somersault with a three and a half twist, was his downfall.

Voisard was awarded scores of twos across the board for not completing his third twist. 

In an effort to give younger swimmers some big meet experience, Winter Haven coach Danny Wallace put junior Michael Shepherd and freshman Mark Lambert in the 200 freestyle relay consolation final and moved Jordan Kendall from the freestyle leg to the backstroke. 

The team finished 14th in 1:55.52. 

Blue Devils Jordan Kendall, I.V. Simons, Luke Kendall and Lambert swam 1:41.56 in the 200 medley relay preliminary race. 

Jordan Kendall, who participated in four races Saturday, swam a personal best 55.90 in the 100 backstroke to place 18th. He swam 5:06.92 in the 500 freestyle, taking 24th. 

Winter Haven sophomore I.V. Simons was disqualified in the 100 breast stroke preliminary race for improper technique. 

The Lakeland boys' 200 yard freestyle relay team reached the consolation final, taking 10th overall in 1:13.87.

The team of freshman Evan Budd, junior Alex Sparbel, senior Alejandro Contreras and Zach Hart improved from their preliminary time of 1:32.43.

Sparbel placed 20th in the 100 butterfly with a personal best time of 54.76. Sparbel also swam in the 200 freestyle relay before his 100 backstroke. He placed 22nd in 56.61, his best time of the season. 

Hart, a senior, placed 22nd in the 50 freestyle in 22.87. He also placed 22nd in the 100 freestyle in 50.14.