Warriors get 'Legg up on foes'
By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on January 27, 2010 1:47 PM
Tradition never graduates.
Certainly not at Eastern Wayne.
The Warriors logged first-place times in six of 12 contested events and claimed their third consecutive Eastern Carolina 3-A Conference boys' swimming championship at B.G. Darden Natatorium on Tuesday evening.
Eastern Wayne cruised past league newcomer Triton 149-123 in the team standings. Southern Wayne collected third place with 99 points, followed by Charles B. Aycock (65) and South Johnston (46).
"Tonight, and all through the year, a young and inexperienced team came forward and really worked hard," said Eastern Wayne's Sidney Myers, who received the ECC boys' coach of the year award for the third straight season.
"We had a plan and they executed the plan. They all did exactly what they were supposed to and knew how important it was. This is their win and I'm proud of every single one of them."
Senior Shane Legg emerged victorious in the 50 and 100 freestyle events, and extended the Warriors' recent dominance in the two short-distance races. Legg became Eastern Wayne's third different champion in the 50 free during a six-year stretch. Current Auburn freshman Mason Chenier won four straight 50 free titles during his career, and Rob Cagle grabbed the 50 free crown during his senior season in 2005.
Legg touched the wall in 24.87 seconds -- six-tenths of a second faster than runner-up Trey Crane of Triton.
"It was a good swim," said Legg, who was named the ECC swimmer of the year. "On my flip turn, I came to the wall a little too close, but still got a push-off that wasn't strong. I kicked with my legs as much as I could and made it up.
"There is always the pressure because these guys can come out of nowhere and beat you."
Legg swam the anchor legs in the gold-medal winning 200 medley and 200 free relays. He was joined by Matt Moulas, Keith Gregorcyk and Christian Bermudez and Alex Lloyd.
In the 200 medley, Legg and Triton's Michael Ogletree matched each other stroke for stroke heading into the final turn. Legg appeared to get a better push off the wall and helped the Warriors grab first place by 35-hundredths of a second.
"That entire swim was just all adrenaline," said Legg.
Moulas secured conference titles in the 200 free and 100 breaststroke.
Southern Wayne seized the meet-ending 400 free relay and qualified for the N.C. High School Athletic Association eastern regionals, which are Feb. 6 at the Goldsboro Family Y. The foursome of Christian Newberry, Dylan Atwood, Sam Ferrell and Chad Davis touched the wall in 4:05 -- nearly 13 seconds quicker than runner-up Eastern Wayne.
Saints head coach Karen O'Donnell shouted "automatic, oh yeah!" as she hugged every swimmer once they exited the pool.
Aycock's Samuel Chastain earned all-conference accolades with a first-place effort in the 100 backstroke.