By Rod Gipson
MaxPreps.com
Several Tampa Bay area swimmers made splashes at the state swim meets held in Orlando.
In Class 2A, St. Petersburg Northeast's Megan Romano was outstanding. Romano won the 200 freestyle and 100 backstroke events, her third and fourth career individual state championships. The Vikings had another champion in P.J. Bennett, who won the boys individual 1-meter diving championship.
Seminole's Kaitlin Frehling won the 50 freestyle and 100 butterfly events.
Tampa Plant's Meg Anderson won the 100 freestyle event, her third career state title. Lithia Newsome's Jason Taylor captured first-place in the 100 butterfly event.
Meanwhile, in Class 3A, Clearwater Countryside swimmer Melanie Margalis set a personal best in the 200 individual medley with a time of 2:01.69. It turned out to be the best time in the event in all classifications.
Palm Harbor University's boys had an individual champ in Alex Glover, who won the 100 butterfly. Also, Tampa Sickles' Greg Cooke won the 50 freestyle with a personal best time of :20.85.
And in Class A, Clearwater Calvary Christian's Jose Crescimbeni was his usual dominant self, swimming to state championships in the 100 butterfly and 100 backstroke events.
Athletes Reveal College Plans
Tampa King baseball player Sean Buckley has verbally committed to the University of South Florida. An infielder, Buckley hit .349, had three doubles and 15 RBI. Buckley also had received interest from Florida International and North Carolina State.
St. Petersburg Gibbs wide receiver/defensive back Larry Murphy has accepted an offer from Division II Georgia Southern. Murphy has 11 receptions and a touchdown on offense this season and eight sacks and four interceptions on defense.
Tampa Academy of the Holy Names volleyball player Maureen Colligan has orally committed to Colgate University. A 5-foot-11 outside hitter, Colligan led the Jaguars in kills this season and help guide Academy to a regional semifinal appearance.
Tampa Plant pitcher Tyler Stinson has committed to the U.S. Naval Academy. A 6-foot-9 senior right-hander, Stinson was 3-1 last season for the Panthers. After being sideline with a broken finger during his sophomore season, Stinson bounced back well last year and even made the summer rounds with a travel team.
Tampa King golfer Chris Biuso has announced he will play college golf for Louisville. Biuso chose the Cardinals over North Florida and West Florida. After posting a 35 9-hole stroke average during the regular season, Biuso posted a runners-up finish at the district tournament with a 18-hole 71 score.