Howard Sisters Lead Oasis Girls to 2nd Place

Tue. October 02, 2012 at 10:00 p.m. | By Polk Preps Staff

Oasis Christian's Hannah Howard competes in the girls 500-yard freestyle race during Tuesday's swim meet at the Rowdy Gaines pool in Winter Haven. (Photo by PIERRE DUCHARME | THE LEDGER )

By IVAN LAMBERT

LEDGER CORRESPONDENT

WINTER HAVEN | The Oasis Christian girls put up a strong fight against the bigger schools they faced Tuesday but came up 10 points shy of winning the five-team meet at Rowdy Gaines Pool.

Oasis Christian finished with 269 points to finish second behind Sebring (279 points) but well ahead of Lakeland Christian (217), Lake Wales (123) and Auburndale (12).

On the boys side, Sebring ran away in the three-team meet, winning with 332 points, 90 more than Lake Wales. Lakeland Christian took third.

Oasis Christian coach Linda Howard was hardly disappointed with her team's performance.

"Tonight was the very first time our swim program has ever defeated Lakeland Christian," Howard said. "We are developing some more depth and this is an encouraging meet for our program tonight".

Hannah Howard and Rebekah Howard paced Oasis Christian.

Hannah Howard, the defending 500-yard freestyle champion at the Polk County Meet, won easily in 5:49.52, and also won the 200 freestyle in 2:08.51.

Older sister Rebekah, last year's Polk County Girls Swimmer of the Year, won the 200 individual medley in 2:26.18 and the 100 breaststroke in 1:13.90.

In the boys meet, Lakeland Christian's Carson Knox was the top performer from Polk County. He won the 200 individual medley in 2:17.47 and the 100 free in 54.20.

Lakeland Christian coach Kristin Livesay said she expects Knox to be a regional qualifier this season in the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke, although he did not swim either event on Tuesday.

""I just wanted him to get in some good work tonight in a couple of other events" Livesay said.