ROLLING HILLS - The main event of the dual match between Orange Park senior Sebastian Lopez, a state meet contender last year and expected this year, and Clay freshman Noah Stotler, a sibling to state champion and Olympic Trials swimmer Sara Stotler, now at the University of Tennessee, unfolded just about the way Clay coach Carol McDougall thought it would.
"Noah is probably not as fast in the freestyle as the Orange Park guy (Lopez), but he is strong in the butterfly," said McDougall before the clash. "I expect the 100 fly will be very close."
In the 100 butterfly, Stotler, who earlier won the 200 individual medley by nearly 20 seconds, got the edge on Lopez with a 54.76 split to win the 100 butterfly with Lopez in at 55.43.
Lopez would also win the 50 free with a 23.01 split over teammate Jabin Buckman, in at 25.80, as Orange Park coach Susan Johnson again has a bevy of fast boys swimmers under her tutelage with sophomore Dakota Blake ripping off a 56.40 100 free win and senior Luke Bronson winning the 200 free in 2:02.25 by more than nine seconds.
"We are going to be fast again," said Johnson. "Our relays will be tough at regions and state and I think Sebastian will medal at state. He had one of the fastest 100 free finals that I've ever seen last year."
In the boy's 200 free relay, Orange Park got the edge on Clay to win in 1:38.36 with the Raiders in at 1:38.87 with Stotler and Lopez the anchors on their teams.
In the boy's score, Orange Park won with 108 points to Clay's 68.
For the girls, Clay won with 92 points to the Raider's 60 led by state qualifier Kylie Elrod's win in the 200 IM and the 100 breaststroke both my large time gaps.
"I'm training better than last year and all summer I think I'm stronger this year," said Elrod. "I want a medal this year."