CLEVELAND, Tenn. — The Dalton Dolphins swam across the state line to capture their second CASL Red Division victory in a hard-fought battle with the Waterdogs, at the Cleveland Community Center pool Thursday.
Despite having a 51-43 lineup disadvantage, including no swimmers in the two youngest categories, the Dolphins came away with 382-366 win after having blown out the Calhoun (Ga.) Blue Barracudas 433.5-280.5 Monday.
Dalton saw 44% (19-of-43) of its swimmers double digit scores, including four winning all their races for 19 points apiece — Layla Brackett, Cailynn Miller, Sophie Martinez and Joseph Moore — while the hosts countered with 16 scoring 10 or more, with Gracelyn Dauphinais as the only "Perfect 19."
With the Dolphins unable to post a swimmer in the 6 & Under divisions, the Waterdogs got a big boast by winning the four youngest age divisions.
Unopposed, the hosts took the Girls 6 & Under 18-0 with Zoe DeBord putting up a dozen and Eliora Allen six points.
Also hitting the water with no Georgia competition, Camden Gray posted 10 points of the 13 Waterdog points in the Boys 6 & Under action.
The home team had a 5-3 swimmer edge in the Girls 7-8, coming away with a 31-17 win.
Zara DeBord led the charge with 15 points, while Elle Richardson helped out with 10.
Dalton's Camila Rodriguez countered with 13 points.
While Eli Mickelson won the Boys 7-8 with 15 points, he was the lone Peach State participant.
The Waterdogs doubled up for a 31-15 outcome behind 10 points each from Charles Shumway and Knox Berry, plus seven by Elliott Erwin.
Dalton's strength came in the middle age groups, winning both of the 9-10, 11-12 and 13-14 divisions, while the Waterdogs made it an even 6-6 split by claiming the two oldest groups.
The Dolphins took the Top 3 spots in the Girls 9-10 for a 54-25 blowout behind a "Perfect 19" from Layla Brackett, plus 15 markers each from Harper Loftis and Aurora Caceres.
The Waterdogs claim the next three spot with seven points each from Alice Bezerra and Sofie Rullmann, while Madison Hicks had a half dozen.
The Boys 9-10 was a dogfight with the visitors edging out a 42-27 tally with a Matthew Martinez and Sebastian Rodriguez leading the way with 14 and 13 points, respectively.
Carter Gray topped the home town effort with a dozen markers, while teammates Fiddy Burgueno and Kyle Hudson tied Dalton's Charlie Rollins for fourth place with nine points apiece.
Dalton took the Girls 11-12 by a 47-32 margin with another "Perfect 19" from Cailynn Miller, plus 15 by Jazlynn Watson to pace the way.
Brooklyn Shumway led the way for the Waterdogs with 12 points, while Kayla Burgueno added seven and Alice Torchick a half dozen to tie with Dalton's Anahi Gonzalez for fifth place.
The Boys 11-12 was another tooth-and-nail battle as the visitors pulled out a 40-36 tally.
Dalton's Joseph Moore won all his races for 19 points, while Waterdogs Sam English and Jackson Hicks put up a dozen each. Will Marroquin helped the visitors with nine points, while Henry Erwin added seven for the home team.
The Dolphins leaped to 46-33 and 53-18 wins in the 13-14 brackets.
Five swimmers put up double digits in the Girls 13-14 races — Dalton's Sophie Martinez (19), Alyssa Valley (10) and Amelia Key (10), plus Waterdogs Laura Ward (13) and Ell Cusion (10).
The Fins took the Top 3 spots in the boys action with Colton Manis and Jacob Moore notching 17 apiece, while Grant Callaway added a baker's dozen.
Elijah Bean led the 'Dogs with 11 points.
The Waterdogs made a late run, taking the Women 15 & Older 50-28 behind their lone "Perfect 19" coming from Gracelyn Dauphinais, plus Alania Chapman adde a dozen and Claire Wendorf eight.
Dalton's lone double digit scorer was Georgia Brackett with 13.
In the closest contest of the evening, the Waterdogs edged the Dolphins 40-39 in the Mens 15 & Older division.
While Dalton's Vincent Bash won the competition with 18 points and teammate Avery Loftis added 10, Lincoln Eberly countered with 16 markers for the Waterdogs, while Timothy Collier notched nine, plus Davis Hobbs and Matthew Fox tied Dolphin Alejandro Paniagua with a half dozen each.
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