STUART — With trophies in their hands, swimmers and divers from the Martin County High School boys and girls swimming teams chanted in unison at coach Danny Hartley.
The Tigers head coach didn't hesitate to obey the instruction, leaping into the water to the cheers of his athletes and the program's supporters. The belly flop celebration served as an exclamation point as the teams swept the Martin County Championships on Tuesday night at Sailfish Splash Waterpark.
"That's why we do it. The kids work super hard," Hartley said. "They're there early in the morning and they're there in the afternoon every day. That's what it's about, doing it for them. They worked hard enough to win, so I can do a belly flop. That's no problem."
Winning six events, Martin County's boys team finished atop the standings with 345 points. South Fork (312) was second, followed by Jensen Beach (239) and The Pine School (134).
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The leaderboard remained the same on the girls side despite the Tigers winning only four events compared to the Falcons' six victories. Still, Martin County's depth was on display as the team collected 343 points, 35 ahead of second-place Jensen Beach.
Since 2013, both the Martin County boys and girls teams have won the county championship 11 times. While the boys extended their winning streak to four consecutive titles, the girls reclaimed the crown after Jensen Beach prevailed last season.
"It just feels so good. Me and my girls know this team is so special," Tigers senior Julia Murphy said. "We've grown such a family bond. I think it's been extra special for me being a senior and really getting to be the big sister for all of our teammates. Everyone put forth a great effort tonight, and it was amazing."
Murphy anchored the team's victory in the 200-yard freestyle relay, teaming with Chloe Morgenstern, Emmy Gonzalez and Charlotte Mitchell to post a time of 1 minute, 46.23 seconds. Mitchell earned two of the team's victories, winning the 100 backstroke (1:03.69) and the 100 butterfly (1:02.23). Martina Saralegui accounted for the Tigers' other victory in the 200 freestyle (2:14.38).
On the boys side, Martin County nearly maximized its opportunities in relay events, capturing two of the three races. The quartet of Daniel Romero, Roman Watson, Bradon Fiore and Manny Gonzalez got to the touchpad first in both the 200 medley relay (1:40.95) and 200 freestyle relay (1:31.51).
Gonzalez, a senior who anchored both relay victories, was thrilled the Tigers went 4-for-4 in county championships during his time with the program.
"I was a little nervous, but it's great to get four," he said. "I hope we can continue this legacy."
Romero and Watson each earned individual victories in the 100 backstroke (54.62) and 50 freestyle (21.75), respectively. They were joined by fellow winners Zack Solmes, who captured the 500 freestyle (5:29.92), and Samuel Shiflett, who won the 1-meter diving competition with 443.6 points.
The county championships wrapped up a perfect regular season for both Tigers teams. Going unbeaten from August through mid-October was the first goal Hartley laid out for the team before the season began.
"Power and intensity," Gonzalez said, summarizing the season thus far. "That's what caused us to be undefeated, and we're going to continue that into the championship season."
Championship season officially begins next week, with Sailfish Splash Waterpark set to host the District 10-3A meet on Oct. 24. The Region 4-3A meet will be held at the same venue on Oct. 31. The Tigers swept the district titles last season, while the boys claimed the regional championship.
"We're on to districts, and the next goal is for the boys and girls to win it again," Hartley said. "We're going to start resting, but my thing is that we need to learn how to swim fast when we're tired. We've got weights in the morning, and we're right back at it. We have a plan and a method to the madness, and it's falling into place."
The Class 3A state championships are scheduled for Nov. 6 at FAST in Ocala, where several Martin County athletes will look to return to the state's biggest stage. That includes Murphy, who qualified for the state meet in four events last season after undergoing shoulder surgery in 2024.
"Last season was amazing, but we're trying to push past that," she said. "We're just trying to be the closest and best team that we can be, pushing each other every day, showing up with a good attitude and really making sure we're the most supportive teammates we can be."
Martin County Championships
Girls
Team scores: 1. Martin County - 343; 2. South Fork - 308; 3. Jensen Beach - 275; 4. Pine - 107
200 Medley Relay: 1. Jensen Beach (Juliette Scuderi, Calli Ryan, Elizabeth Barnhart, Sienna Udzinski), 1:57.91; 2. Martin County (Charlotte Mitchell, Chloe Morgenstern, Noelle Bussom, Julia Murphy), 1:58.08
200 Free: 1. Martina Saralegui, MC, 2:14.38; 2. Emmy Gonzalez, MC, 2:17.61
200 IM: 1. Jul. Scuderi, JB, 2:17.68; 2. Morgenstern, MC, 2:23.89
50 Free: 1. Udzinski, JB, 24.97; 2. Murphy, JB, 25.17
Dive: 1. Marissa Coates, SF, 272.8
100 Fly: 1. Mitchell, MC, 1:02.23; 2. Barnhart, JB, 1:05.99
100 Free: 1. Jul. Scuderi, JB, 55.23; 2. Udzinski, JB, 56.03
500 Free: 1. Barnhart, JB, 5:48.06; 2. Bussom, MC, 5:49.45
200 Free Relay: 1. Martin County (Murphy, Morgenstern, E. Gonzalez, Mitchell), 1:46.23; 2. South Fork (Gianna Sambevski, Kaitlyn Wolf, Addison O’Neal, Coates), 1:54.84
100 Back: 1. Mitchell, MC, 1:03.69; 2. O’Neal, SF, 1:08.75
100 Breast: 1. Sambevski, SF, 1:14.7; 2. Morgenstern, MC, 1:14.86
400 Free Relay: 1. Jensen Beach (Udzinski, Barnhart, Sanford, Jul. Scuderi), 4:00.36; 2. Martin County (Bussom, Saralegui, Olivia Madden, E. Gonzalez), 4:10.67
Boys
Team scores: 1. Martin County - 345; 2. South Fork - 312; 3. Jensen Beach - 239; 4. Pine - 134
200 Medley Relay: 1. Martin County (Daniel Romero, Roman Watson, Bradon Fiore, Manny Gonzalez), 1:40.95; 2. Jensen Beach (Brodrick Cunio, Ethan Ingels, Justin Scuderi, Parker Woods), 1:43.7
200 Free: 1. Colby Metzger, SF, 1:47.55; 2. Manny Gonzalez, MC, 1:54.42
200 IM: 1. Gavin Thompson, SF, 1:59.51; 2. Romero, MC, 2:04.87
50 Free: 1. Watson, MC, 21.75; 2. Jus. Scuderi, JB, 21.93
Dive: 1. Samuel Shiflett, MC, 443.6
100 Fly: 1. Metzger, SF, 53.19; 2. Fiore, MC, 59.36
100 Free: 1. Jus. Scuderi, JB, 49.98; 2. Woods, JB, 55.23
500 Free: 1. Zack Solmes, MC, 5:29.92; 2. Connor Benton, JB, 5:53:03
200 Free Relay: 1. Martin County (Watson, Fiore, Romero, Gonzalez), 1:31.51; 2. South Fork (Henry Postel, Metzger, Remington Oteifa, Thompson), 1:33.19
100 Back: 1. Romero, MC, 54.62; 2. Cunio, JB, 1:00.06
100 Breast: 1. Thompson, SF, 1:00.22; 2. Watson, MC, 1:00.6
400 Free Relay: 1. Jensen Beach (Ingels, Woods, Cunio, Jus. Scuderi), 3:29.83; 2. South Fork (Metzger, Evelio Claro, Oteifa, Thompson), 3:29.85
Patrick Bernadeau is a sports reporter for Treasure Coast Newspapers. He can be reached at 772-985-9692, on X at @PatBernadeau or via email at pbernadeau@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Belly Flop Celebration: Martin County sweeps County Swim Championships
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