By Rick Pedone
Sports Editor

Swimmers and divers from six Osceola County schools advanced to regional meets today and Friday at two Central Florida locations.

Harmony, the 2A District 6 boys champion, leads the way with 17 qualifiers for Friday’s 9 a.m. 2A-2 regional at the Orlando YMCA Aquatic Center.

Osceola and Gateway swimmers and divers compete at the 3A-1 regional at the Aquatic Center today at 9 a.m., while Celebration and Poinciana athletes travel to Tarpon Springs for the 2A-3 regional Friday.

The Longhorns (422) upset Titusville (390) to win the district championship last Thursday at the at the Aquatic Center. It was the team’s third championship in four seasons.

All three Harmony boys relay teams won championships: the 400 freestyle (3:25.15) with Tyler Cunningham, Mitchell Mungall, John Roberts and Luke Roberts; the medley relay (1:46.62) with Cunningham, Brandon Graber, Justin Kennedy and Jesse Tetreault;  and the 200 free (1:35.02) with Tetreault, John Roberts, Sam Steele, Luke Roberts.

The 400 free and the 200 medley relays are seeded second in the regional, and the 200 free is seeded fourth.

Qualifying as individuals are Mungall in the 200 free (15th) and 500 free (9th); Graber in the 100 breaststroke (7th) and 200 IM (18th); Justin Kennedy in the 100 fly (10th) and the breaststroke (12th); Cunningham  in the 100 butterfly (4th); Tetreault in the 100 free (13th); Steele in the 50 free (12th); Brice Howard in the 50 free (14th); Luke Roberts in the 100 back (8th); John Roberts in the 100 back (13th) and divers Larry McVicker (5th), Logan Tindall (7th) and Christian Smith (13th).

“On paper, the boys should get at least second-place as a team. Gainesville looks mighty strong, but we’ll do our best,” Longhorns Coach Terry Brown said.

The Lady Longhorns are represented by Katy Davis in the 50 free (9th) and 100 free (9th); diver Jordan Miller (15th); Olivia Missigman in the 100 fly (16th); Lindsey Saute in the 500 free (15th) and Kendall Knight in the 100 breaststroke (14th). The 400 relay (7th) of Saute, Missigman, Briana Felitti and Davis also competes.

St. Cloud diver Shannon Esford (17th) is the Bulldogs’ lone representative.

Gateway is sending four girls to the 3A-1 regional, one of the most difficult in the state.

Alex Martinez qualified in three events: the 200 IM (8th), the 100 fly (6th) and, with Melissa Morgan, Jodi Hennen and Suanny Zamora, the 200 medley relay (13th). The relay placed second at the district meet last week (2:04.12).

Zamora competes in the 100 back (9th).

“I was very pleased with our performance. Everyone swam well. We had 39 best swims at district,” Coach Vonnie Kochensparger said.

Three Osceola High divers qualified for the 3A-1 regional: Jordan Copeland (15th), Jordan Parrish (16th) and Holland O’Donnell (20th).

Three Celebration swimmers go to the 2A-3 regional at Tarpon Springs. Darby Richards qualified in the breaststroke (21st) and 200 IM (24th). Nikki Patten qualified in the 500 free (22nd) and Michael Fontaine competes in the 50 free (22nd).

Poinciana’s Martie Wagner will swim the 200 free (22nd) at Tarpon Springs. The top eight in the regionals and the next 16 best at-large times advance to the state meets next week at the Aquatic Center.