Hargrave 200y Freestyle Relay Team Earns NISCA All-American Honors

During the 2007 Virginia State Independent Schools Swimming and Diving Championships held February 16-17, Hargrave Military Academy’s 200y Freestyle Relay team won their event and broke a 15 year old state record in the process. The relay’s time, 1:27.80, was also fast enough to be considered for the National Interscholastic Swimming Coaches Association’s (NISCA) All American Award. The award is one of the most prestigious for high school swimmers.

The team set the make at Hargrave’s Onishi-Davenport Aquatic Center, their home pool, on February 16, 2007.

On August 14, 2007, the NISCA All American athletes were announced for the 2006-2007 winter season. NISCA awards All American status to the top 130 athletes or relay teams in each event.

Hargrave’s 200y Freestyle relay team placed 129th out of 130 teams, which marks the first time a Hargrave relay team has earned All American status by NISCA. Shenedehowa High School of Clifton Park, New York was 128th at 1:27.78. Bethlehem Central High School of Bethlehem, New York, was 130th with 1:27.81. The fastest recorded time for the 2006-2007 season came from New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois, posting a time of 1:23.41

In posting at 1:27.80, Hargrave’s 200y Freestyle relay team featured four juniors each racing 50y of Freestyle. In order of their swim, they are: Rohan Johnson, split 22.90; Steven Gasparis, split 22.07; Patrick Martelli, split 21.43; and Ryan Inwood, split 21.43.

Additionally, three of these juniors are planning to return to Hargrave for their senior year. The previous state record for the 200y Freestyle relay was set on February 22, 1993 by Norfolk Academy.

The same team also won the 400y Freestyle relay the next night on February 17 with a 3:15.16. Unfortunately, the team failed to break the state record, 3:14.08, or earn a NISCA All American consideration time for the All American designation.

Johnson is the son of Rohan and Audrey Johnson of Kingston, Jamaica. Gasparis is the son of James and Cathy Gasparis of Reston, Virginia. Martelli is the son of Greg Martelli of Winchester, Kentucky. Inwood is the son of John and Vicki Inwood of Roswell, Georgia.

Hargrave Military Academy logo.