Meet the 2022 Palm Beach Post All-County boys swimming team

Eric J. Wallace and Emilee Smarr, Palm Beach Post
·5 min read

Palm Beach County's fastest swimmers brought home state championships and smashed county records in another big year in the high school pool.

These are nominees for swimmers of the year for the Palm Beach County High School Sports Awards to be held in the spring. The winner will be announced at the show, which is sponsored by Baptist Health Orthopedic Care. More details about the program are coming soon.

During the live show, these nominees will be honored, along with the top three finalists and the player of the year. All official nominees can receive a free ticket. Check back later in the year for information on how to RSVP.

The Palm Beach County High School Sports Awards show is part of the USA TODAY High School Sports Awards, the largest high school sports recognition program in the country.

The Palm Beach County High School Sports Awards will return with a live event in 2023
The Palm Beach County High School Sports Awards will return with a live event in 2023

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All-County Boys Swimming

Aitor Arrese-Igor, St. Andrew’s

St. Andrew's Aitor Arrese-Igor competes in Heat 1 of the boys 200 Yard Individual Medley during the 1A FHSAA State Swimming and Diving Championship Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, at Sailfish Splash Waterpark in Stuart.
St. Andrew's Aitor Arrese-Igor competes in Heat 1 of the boys 200 Yard Individual Medley during the 1A FHSAA State Swimming and Diving Championship Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021, at Sailfish Splash Waterpark in Stuart.

Arrese-Igor was versatile in his impacts for St. Andrew's this season: He swam in the Scots' third-place 400-meter freestyle relay, took fifth in the 200 individual medley and seventh in the 100 back. At regionals, the senior was a champion in the 400 relay and 200 IM while taking third in the 100 back. Arrese won the 200 IM at the Palm Beach County Championships.

Lucas Bailey, Boca Raton

Lucas Bailey, Boca Raton swimming
Lucas Bailey, Boca Raton swimming

Bailey made a splash for the Bobcats at regionals, winning titles in the 200 IM and 200 medley relay and 200 free relay. He also finished as region runner-up in the 100 butterfly. Bailey also earned a state championship in his sophomore campaign with the Bobcats' 200 free relay team.

Diego Balbi, St. Andrew's

St. Andrew's Diego Balbi competes in the boys 100-meter butterfly during the 2022 Florida High School Athletic Association Class 1A Swimming and Diving State Championships on Nov. 18 at Sailfish Splash Waterpark in Stuart.
St. Andrew's Diego Balbi competes in the boys 100-meter butterfly during the 2022 Florida High School Athletic Association Class 1A Swimming and Diving State Championships on Nov. 18 at Sailfish Splash Waterpark in Stuart.

Balbi was a dominant presence for St. Andrew's this season, earning state runner-up in 100-meter fly and fourth in 100 back while anchoring the Scots' third-place 400-meter free relay. The junior also was a region champion in the 100 back, 100 fly and 400 free relay while finishing runner-up in the 200-meter free relay. Balbi set the county championship record in the 100 fly (47.36).

Ambrus Barcsak, St. Andrew's

Ambrus Barcsak, Saint Andrew's
Ambrus Barcsak, Saint Andrew's

Barcsak led the way for St. Andrew's at the Palm Beach County Championships, winning the 500-meter and 200-meter freestyle with personal-best times. The senior was one of two county athletes to win multiple events at the meet. He finished as region runner-up in the 200 free and took fifth in the event at state.

Leif Bouwman, Jupiter

Jupiter senior Leif Bouwman (second from right) stands on the platform to receive his medal after taking third in the 50-meter free.
Jupiter senior Leif Bouwman (second from right) stands on the platform to receive his medal after taking third in the 50-meter free.

Bouwman was one of Palm Beach County's top sprinters, taking third at state and region runner-up in the 50-meter freestyle. He earned fifth at state in the 100 fly. The senior was key on Jupiter's relay teams, earning region runner-up in the 200 medley relay and third in the 400 free relay.

Sean Dowling, Oxbridge Academy

Sean Dowling, Oxbridge
Sean Dowling, Oxbridge

Dowling took first place in 1-meter diving at the Palm Beach County Championships as a freshman. He finished fifth at the Class 1A state meet and was runner-up at the region meet.

Noah Engstrom, King's Academy

Noah Engstrom, King's
Noah Engstrom, King's

Engstrom was an important relay contributor in the Lions' fourth-place finishes in the 200 freestyle relay and 400 freestyle relay at state. Individually, the junior took fourth in the 50 free and 100 free at regionals.

Chase Foulds, Park Vista

Park Vista swimmer Chase Foulds
Park Vista swimmer Chase Foulds

Foulds ended his Cobra swimming career as a champion, earning Palm Beach County and region titles in the 100 freestyle and 100 breaststroke. He was also on Park Vista's third-place 200-free relay team at regionals. Foulds placed sixth in the 100 free at state.

Marcus Johnson, Boca Raton

Defending 200-meter free champions senior Gregory Nordheim (left) and junior Marcus Johnson (right) of Boca Raton pose with their gold medals.
Defending 200-meter free champions senior Gregory Nordheim (left) and junior Marcus Johnson (right) of Boca Raton pose with their gold medals.

Johnson is a championship swimmer for Boca Raton: He won a state title in the 200 freestyle relay and claimed region titles in the 50 free, 200 medley relay and 200 free relay. The Bobcats' junior was also accomplished in the 100 free, taking eighth at state and second at the regional meet.

Gregory Nordheim, Boca Raton

Nordheim captured a state championship on the Bobcats' 200-meter freestyle relay and finished as state runner-up in the 100 free. He also finished fourth in the 50 free and fifth in the 200 medley relay at state. The Bobcats' senior was also key in region titles for Boca's 200 medley relay and 200 free relay teams.

Paul Pokatragool, FAU High

Paul Pokatragool, FAU High
Paul Pokatragool, FAU High

FAU's star sophomore made an impact in the 50-meter freestyle, taking sixth at the Class 1A state meet and third at the region championships. He also placed eighth in the 100 breast. Pokatragool also won the 50 free at the Palm Beach County Championships.

Noah Smith, King's Academy

King's Academy swimmer Noah Smith
King's Academy swimmer Noah Smith

The Lions' star junior finished as state runner-up in the 100-meter backstroke, fourth in the 200 medley relay and fourth in the 400 relay. Smith stood atop the podium as region champion in the 50 free while finishing as runner-up in the 100 back and third in the 400 free relay. He took first place in the 100 back at the Palm Beach County Championships.

Coach of the Year

Gordon and Melanie Andrews, Park Vista

One of Palm Beach County's most influential swim and dive coaches is set to retire after more than two decades coaching at John I. Leonard and Park Vista. Gordon Andrews also serves as director for the Lake Lytal Lightning swim club, through which he's coached countless future collegiate swimmers. He's hosted the county championship meet for the past 22 years. Andrews' wife, Melanie, is also a veteran Palm Beach County swimming coach and stepped in for her husband early this year to coach Park Vista's swim team.

Honorable Mention

Benjamin Allahar, So., Suncoast

Hudson Bishop, Sr., Jupiter

Valerio Bonuglia, Sr., St. Andrew's

Connor Chen, Sr., Jupiter

Caleb DaSilva, Jr., Wellington

Tim McQueeney, Fr., King's Academy

Victor Gil, Jr., Park Vista

Kevin Melo, So., Boca Raton

Dillon Metz, Fr., Wellington

Sergio Mendoza, Sr., Olympic Heights

Arthur Solopenkov, So., Boca Raton

Jake Venezia, Jr., St. Andrew's

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Palm Beach Post 2022 All-County: Boys swimming