West Laurel, Russett Win Prince-Mont Openers

Last summer, the six Laurel-area teams in the Prince-Mont Swim League combined for a record of 9-20 in regular-season meets.

Only two teams, Russett (3-2) and Prince George's Park and Recreation (3-1), posted winning records for the league, which is a summer, recreational league for youth with events for youth 8 and under, as well as ages 15-18. Most of the teams are based in Prince George's or Montgomery counties, but there are also teams in the league from Howard County, Anne Arundel County, Washington, D.C. and other locales.

But the 2011 season began with better success this past Saturday as West Laurel and Russett came away with wins. The win was especially sweet for West Laurel, which was 1-4 last year, and its new coach.

West Laurel beat Whitehall, 307-267, in Division B, while Russett downed Roger Carter, 279.5-276.5, in Division D.

Caitlin Raynor, a standout for Laurel High before graduating in 2010, aided the win for West Laurel. She was second in the fly and breast and first in the backstroke in 15-18 girls.

"We lost a lot of kids but I feel like everyone is stepping up and doing a great job," said Raynor, who just completed her freshman year at Coastal Carolina University in North Carolina. "The team spirit is there. We have a new coach, Dave Floyd, though he was our coach a few years ago."

Raynor, a West Laurel resident, added the team has been making some strides with its current roster.

"We are lacking in some of the older kids. It is the 9-10 and 11-12 kids that are carrying the team and doing an awesome job."

This is the last summer season for Raynor and is extra special since her school does not have a college or club swimming program.

Another Laurel High product with West Laurel is Will Hoover, a recent graduate who competed on the Spartans' swim team last season.

"We lost a bunch of swimmers, but coaching-wise it will definitely improve our ability to get better," Hoover said.

A four-year swimmer for Laurel, he was second in the back, third in the 50 relay and fourth in the free in 15-18 boys.

In other meets, West Arundel fell to Kingfish, 307-269, in Division C; Montpelier lost to Marlton, 292-272, in Division C; and Laurel City fell to Hawthorne, 324-230, in Division F. The score for Prince George's Parks and Recreation had not been reported as of Monday afternoon.

West Arundel standout Andria Moyer, a rising senior at St. Vincent Pallotti High in Laurel, told Laurel Patch on Monday that her team should be stronger this season.

"I think we will be pretty good," said Moyer, who has competed for more than 10 years with the West Arundel swim team. "I feel we have a lot of young kids but not a lot of 15-18 girls."

Moyer was first in the fly and second in the back and 100 IM in 15-18 girls. For the 15-18 West Arundel boys, Pallotti product Billy Rodgers was first in the 100 IM and fly and second in the back. JT Noland, a 2011 Pallotti graduate, was first in the free among 15-18 boys.

The Ducks of West Arundel were paced by triple winners and siblings, Michael Venit (U-8 free, breast and back), Jay Venit (11-12 fly, breast and IM) and Kellianne Venit (15-18 free, breast and IM). Kellianne Venit set team records in all three and Jay set a team record in the breast.

Last season, West Arundel and Montpelier were 1-4 and Laurel City was 0-5. West Arundel was in the B division last year.