Setting Records

Posted Oct 12, 2006 by Sherri Lonon

Updated Oct 12, 2006 at 03:50 PM

By SARAH ROTHWELL
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Leto High School senior and boys swim team captain Isidro Gonzalez attributes his team’s success to good sportsmanship.

“Our swim team is like a family,” he said. “We are all like brothers and sisters. We help each other out when we need it and support each other no matter what, through wins and losses.”

So far this season, the boys team has experienced many more wins than losses. The Falcons are 5-1 and on Sept. 26, Gonzalez, along with team members Jorge Barrios, Shane Cross and Jorge Ospina, broke the school record in the 200-yard freestyle relay. The previous record, set in 1992, was 1 minute, 45.34 seconds. The new record is 1:44:57.

“Team spirit is at an all-time high,” said coach Jim Lavelle.

Lavelle, a coach at Leto since 1981, said this year’s swim team is the best he has seen in years. There are 15 boys on the team, nine more than last year. They practice weekday afternoons at the Northwest Hillsborough YMCA from 3:30 to 5:30.

This season, Lavelle was thrilled to have Ospina, a recent immigrant from Venezuela, join the team. Ospina, a senior, is the first Leto swimmer in several years to qualify for the state swim meet. On Nov. 3, he will compete at the Hall of Fame Pool in Fort Lauderdale, swimming the 100-yard butterfly and 200-yard freestyle. His time in the 100-butterfly is an impressive 52.36 seconds.

“I’ve waited for so long for the moment I go to state,” Ospina said. “I can’t wait to hear them say, ‘swimmers take your mark.’ Then, I’ll rock and roll.”
Ospina began swimming at age 8 and competed successfully in Venezuela for many years. In 2005, he immigrated to Florida and moved in with his sister, hoping to catch the attention of college swim scouts. He would like to attend either the University of Florida or Florida State University on an athletic scholarship.

Lavelle said college recruiters may approach Ospina at the state meet, depending on how he finishes.

“They like to see how the swimmers perform under the stress of being in finals,” Lavelle said.

Ospina’s teammates support him 100 percent. He said the team’s welcoming attitude made it easier to transition from Venezuela to the states. He made friends quickly and was impressed by the other boys’ abilities.

“The team is very good,” he said. “We all genuinely love the water and love to swim. Swimming is good for your body and your spirit.”
Gonzalez, who enjoys swimming the 200-yard and 500-yard freestyle events, agrees.

“I chose this sport because of the water and because it’s a great work out,” he said. “You work all your muscles. Plus, you have a great time.”

Some of the team’s new members wish they had discovered swimming sooner.
“I like the competition,” said senior newcomer Nick Crowe, who won the 50-yard freestyle during a recent meet at Interbay Pool.
“If I’d have known how much fun it was, I would have joined last year. My teammates are awesome.”

Still, Crowe will have more than his share of winning senior memories when the team’s season ends next month. Junior Jorge Barrios will lead next year’s team. Lavelle hopes the team will continue to grow in numbers and in spirit for years to come.

“The boys have created a big stir at the school,” he said. “It’s a rejuvenation for the Leto swim team.”

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