It was an All-American kind of day, on Saturday, at the 2008 MIAA Swimming Championships, as 10 performances qualified for automatic All-American status and seven others were fast enough to be evaluated for the same status, should they prove to be among the nation's top 130 times in their respective events.  And, by the way, Loyola won its 14th consecutive MIAA team title and 15th straight dating back to the days of the Maryland Scholastic Association (MSA).
 
It was another run-away performance for the Dons, who recently won the National Catholic Championship, as the Dons scored 365 points to finish 117 points ahead of the second place team, host McDonogh.

The automatic All-Americans included Loyola's 200 Medley Relay team of Greg Pelton, Sean Roddy, Evan Danz and Hugh Davison, which swam a meet record 1:36.04 to win the final over McDonogh, which all swam an All-American time of 1:36.66.  The Eagle quartet included Patrick Spearman, David Newton Tommy Everett and Brian Sweeney.

The 200 free produced two more automatic All-Americans and another meet record.  Mount St. Joseph star Ryan Shea took the victory with a time of 1:40.85, followed closely by Loyola's Davidson, who swam 1:41.25.

Austin Surhoff of St. Paul's kept the ball rolling with another automatic AA time in the 200 Individual Medley, as he posted a 1:52.16.  Loyola's Roddy (1:55.73) and McDonogh's Newton (1:56.02) swam second and third, respectively, and their times will be submitted for AA consideration.  Surfhoff also won the 100 backstroke with an AA time of 51.16 and he was chased by Pelton who swam 52.64, another time that will get AA consideration.  Pelton also won the 100 free, in 47.58.  It was one of the few events that did not produce AA consideration.

Giles Smith of McDonogh broke yet another mett record when blazed through the 50 free in 20.95 to claim AA status.  He then won the 100 butterfly in 51.07, edging Calvert Hall's Arny Warren (51.73).  Both of those times were fast enough to be submitted for AA consideration.

In the 500 free, it was Drew Cosgarea of McDonogh qualifying as an All-American, as he swam a victorious time of 4:31.90.  He would later join Ian Slater, Newton and Smith to swim another AA time of 3:11.57 in the 400 free.  That time, however, was only good enough for second place, as Loyola's team of Davison, Danz, Oliver Bennett and Pelton posted a meet record 3:09.26 to take the title.

The other two winners were both AA submitable, as Loyola's Roddy won the 100 breast in 59.35 and McDonogh's team of Spearman, Slater, Sweeeny and Smith captured the 200 free relay in 1:28.21.

Schertle was overjoyed at his 15th straight crown,coming just weeks after a third National Catholic title.

"We practice hard, and every member of this team makes a contribution," said Schertle. "I'm very proud of all of them."
 
Below are the complete team scores.  Also, click on the link below for all of the qualifying and final results for each of the varsity and junior varsity events, including all of the individual B Conferenc champions.
 
2008 MIAA Swimming Championships

A Conference Team Scores
1. Loyola 365
2. McDonogh 248
3. Calvert Hall 244
4. Mount St. Joseph 151
5. St. Paul's 108
 
B Conference
1. Gilman 269
2. Severn 228
3. Archbishop Spalding 213
4. John Carroll 188
5. St. Mary's 175
6. St. Vincent Pallotti 88