REBELS BOYS FINISH 3RD AT VIRGINIA STATE MEET; JOEY KELLY WINS 2 INDIVIDUAL STATE TITLES

Date Posted: Mar 07, 2010
Game Date: Feb 20, 2010

Score:
REBELS: 3rd
VIRGINIA STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS (BOYS):

The Rebels Boys Swim and Dive team completed their postseason with the best Regional and State finishes in school history.  Behind 2-event champion and high point award winner Joey Kelly, every member of the state team qualified for the state finals and scored points for the team in a tight race for the podium.  Fairfax, teamed with Oakton and Langley high school to dethrone 7-time state champion Robinson High School, who finished 4th.

The 200 Medley Relay team of Seniors Patrick Johnson, Michael Cosgrove, Tommy Scibilia and Peter Rossbach beat their Regional time in order to qualify for finals, and taking a 15th place finish.

In the 200 IM, Senior Jake Baumgardner came through with a clutch swim in the preliminary round in order to edge out another swimmer and qualify for the A-final.  Jake finished 8th in the state.

In the 50 Freestyle event, Senior Joey Kelly looked to defend his Regional title in a rematch against cross-town rival and Woodson swimmer Kevin Vest.  Joey would win the rematch with a strong second half kick for his first state championship in a new state record time.  Junior Travis Lauri had an impressive sprint in the preliminaries to qualify for the A-final and a faster swim in the finals to finish 6th in the state.

In the Dive event, Senior Peter Rossbach scored a personal best time and moved from a 13th seed to finish 8th in the state.

In the 100 Butterfly, Junior Austin Patteson swam well to make finals and again in the finals to take 16th in the state.

In the 100 Freestyle it was the Joey Kelly show again - this time matching up against Eastern Region champion Zach Motter from Ocean Lakes.  Once again it was Joey's strength to the wall that was the difference.  Joey's finish gave him his second state title of the day and ensured him a share of the state high point award with Oakton swimmers Bradley Phillips and KJ Park.   Junior Travis Lauri swam his fastest career 100 fresstyle in order to qualify for finals and to finish 11th in the state.

The 200 Freestyle Relay (Jake Baumgardner, Travis Lauri, Austin Patteson and Joey Kelly) would turn into the battle for central Fairfax.  In the preliminary round, the Rebels would touch the wall first, breaking the state record in the event.  In the finals, cross-town rival Woodson would turn the tables and break the Rebels record.  The Rebels would take second in the event, putting themselves in position for a spot on the team title podium.

The Rebels continued their march up the standings in the 100 Backstroke as two Rebels swimmers, Patrick Johnson and Jake Baumgardner swam their way into the state finals.  Patrick finished 12th in the state and Jake finished 13th in the state.

Fittingly, the final event of the meet turned into a showdown of the three fastest teams in the state.  After the preliminaries in the 400 Freestyle Relay, it was clear the three teams had separated themselves from the rest of the pack.  The Fairfax team of Austin Patteson, Travis Lauri, Jake Baumgardner and Joey Kelly swam a season best time and finished 2nd in the state, topped only by Oakton, which set a National record.  The Fairfax finish cemented them in the top 3 and secured their position on the team podium.