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Swimmers ready to make a splash

By Randy Lefko Sports Editor
Posted 8/19/20

FLEMING ISLAND - For Fleming Island High junior swimmer Christine Johnson, summer has been simple.

"Swim, eat, recover, swim, eat, recover, twice a day, all summer," said Johnson. "We want the …

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Swimmers ready to make a splash


Posted

FLEMING ISLAND - For Fleming Island High junior swimmer Christine Johnson, summer has been simple.

"Swim, eat, recover, swim, eat, recover, twice a day, all summer," said Johnson. "We want the second title."

For the Fleming Island High foursome of Johnson, Emma and Sarah Grimm and Abree Clark, returning to their pool is a matter of finishing the job. Johnson is the lone junior returner with the other three all incoming seniors.

"They will definitely have that target on their back no matter how the season goes," said Fleming Island High swim coach Jordan Bright. "Our region is very tough and I think the St. Johns County schools schools; Creekside, Ponte Vedra, Bartram Trail are still strong. We'll have to see what happens."

The pressure on the squad doesn't come alone from the competition in the next lane, but from a legacy of relay gold medals from the Fleming Island High boys teams; Jack Neeley, Andrew Heinton, John Hutton and Nick Hackett with Jacob Thompson on the third team after Hutton graduated, that were three-time 4 x 50 free relay gold medalists from 2015 through 2017.

"All four of us have the mindset that the repeat is the goal this year and the second gold is do-able," said Johnson, referrring to the Golden Eagles state title in the medley relay backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly and freestyle, 50 meters for reach teammate) last year and a near-miss second place finish in the 4 x 50 freestyle relay. "Our attitude is that every meet is possibly the last meet. We want to chase the boys' mark."

With their season in jeopardy from day one despite the projected August 24 restart of area schools, Clark saw the opportunity to compete as a gift.

At the Class 3A championships last year, the Fleming Island quartet battled through a fast start from Fort Myers High who got an early lead. Emma Grimm responded with a scintillating breaststroke leg that gave the Golden Eagles enough space to hold off Fort Myers for the title.

In the 4 x 50 free relay, the same Fleming Island relay squad chased Tallahassee Chiles for the silver by just two seconds.

"We are so excited, but we also know that the season is shorter and we probably won't be able to compete against as many teams as in the past," said Clark. "For us, though, the season was a warmup for districts, regions and state."

With the summer swim programs shut down; the Eagle Harbor Screaming Eagles, for both girls, the readiness to compete at a high level quickly is the forefront challenge.

"During the season, our meets are set up to improve certain aspects of what we want to do in the post season," said Johnson. "Some swimmers progress faster at the end of the season, some improve their stroke by the end of the season, but with a shorter schedule, it's going to be a challenge to kind of find all the right pieces before districts."