JACKSONVILLE - District titles to three different athletes; Sara Stotler, Kinsey Williamson and Elysia Addison fueled a strong third place team finish for the Clay High girls swim teams as area athletes revved up for possible state meet tickets at the newly-formed district 3-2A swimming and diving championships held at Cecil Field Aquatic Center on Wed, Oct. 23.

In the boys competition, Orange Park, with newcomer Jose Medina combining speed, a 51-flat win over Ridgeview ace Michael Johnson (51.54) in the 100 freestyle, with distance ace Daniel Hinkle (second in 500 free), punched in as third place team also. Medina and Hinkle piled on team points with a 2-3 finish in the 200 free. Hinkle was 15th in 2A in the 200 free and 500 free last year.Johnson would be district champion in the 100 breaststroke (fourth in region) with Clay’s Sam Bement third.

“Danny Hinkle has already shown his passion for the sport with his leadership and ability, both in and out of the pool,” said Orange Park coach Susan Johnson. “Adding Jose Medina to the mix will enhance them both, especially in the relays.”

The top three region qualifiers in the 200 free are Stanton’s Mehdi Elaoufir, Medina and Hinkle. Medina’s 100 free win puts him at second in region with Johnson third. Hinkle is ranked third in the 500 free with Ridgeview’s Gage Quigley ninth.

Stotler, the defending Class 2A champion in the l00 butterfly and also region champion in the 200IM, started the Blue Devil surge with a fast gold medal in the meet’s first event; the 200 medley relay with freestyler Jayde Dillevig on anchor with a region leading 1:55.43 split. Stotler returned to the pool less than a hour later to destroy the field in the 200 individual medley with a region-best 2:05.39. Second place was 2:25.72; Isabella Marim of Stanton Prep.

Stotler’s third title came in the 100 butterfly with an 11 second triumph with her 55.29 split (54.82 to win state) ousting the field’s second placer’s 1:06.29 and topping the region rankings by four seconds.

For Clay’s girls, Williamson won the 100 backstroke with teammate Marley Meyers adding points at fourth while Addison took the 100 breastroke for Blue Devil points. Williamson’s 1:05.18 is fourth ranked with Arnold High’s Taylor Warren leading with a 58.35. Addison’s split of 1:12.12 is third ranked in the region with Alice Mao of Rickards leading 1:09.31.

Teams head to the region 1-2A championships in Panama City at the Frank Brown Aquatic Center on Wed., Oct. 30.

For the girls, Stanton Prep was team champion with 504 points with Menendez second at 3184, Clay third at 309.5, Orange Park sixth at 171 and Ridgeview seventh at 145.

In the relays, Clay won the 200 medley relay by five seconds over Stanton; 1:55.43-2:00.85; won the 200 free relay over Menendez and Orange Park and got third in the 400 free relay behind Menendez and Stanton.

Orange Park’s Ariel Alexander had the third best region split in the 50 free with her 26.57 behind Menendez’ Ella Chang and Eastside’s Chloe Fowler’s 26.44 with Dillevig sixth ranked at 26.65.

“Ariel Alexander is not “might” but “when” she will advance to the state level,” said Johnson. “I know she has the two things that can get her to the next level- drive and talent.”

Ridgeview junior Carson Cain’s second place 100 free split of 59.15 is ranked sixth in the region with Pensacola’s Claire Han on top at 54.99.

For the boys, Stanton won with 470 points, Bishop Kenny was second at 329.5 with Orange Park third at 322. Ridgeview finished sixth at 156 with Clay eighth at 110.

In the relays, Orange Park took third in the 200 medley relay behind Stanton and Bishop Kenny with Ridgeview fifth and won the 200 free relay by edging Stanton 136.53-1:36.55. Orange Park’s 200 free relay is third ranked in regions. Ridgeview was fifth with Orange Park sixth in the 400 free relay; 3:46.25-3:47.62 with Clay seventh.

“I like to think that our success over the last three years is a combination of improving stroke mechanics, discipline and team building,” said Johnson. “As our team improves, others are motivated to join.”

In diving, Ridgeview’s Arden Jackson was second in the girls event with 351 points behind Bishop Kenny’s Tayler Graham; 1-2 in region rankings.

In Classes 3A and 4A, where Fleming Island and Oakleaf compete this year in the new district formations, the Golden Eagles will travel to Tallahassee to compete in their new district 2-3A on Tues., Oct. 29 with Oakleaf, now in district 1-4A, competing on Wed., Oct. 30 at the Cecil Field Aquatic Center.