DeLand sweeps Record Breaker Invitational titles

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  • The DeLand Bulldogs swim group received the mixed, girls and boys titles on the annual Record Breaker Invitational.
  • This marks the fifth consecutive win for the boys group and the mixed group at this occasion.
  • Junior swimmer Lexie O’Keefe set a brand new meet file within the 50-yard freestyle with a time of 24.5 seconds.

PORT ORANGE — A rainbow of coloured swim caps stepped to the diving blocks on the Port Orange YMCA for the annual Record Breaker Invitational, however the black caps belonging to the DeLand Bulldogs went dwelling victorious.

The Bulldogs coasted to their fifth consecutive mixed win, in addition to their fifth straight boys win. The DeLand women group returned to the highest of the Record Breaker podium for the primary time since 2022 as properly.

“This is a big meet for us in the sense of bragging rights and breaking records, but we’re only mid-season, so we’re not even at championship season,” DeLand coach Kati Kaye stated on Saturday, Sept. 13. “The times that they pulled off today and what they swam this year already has us positioned for the end of the season really well. I mean, they crushed it.”

The Bulldogs weren’t actually threatened in both class. DeLand’s women group had 542 factors and beat runner-up Spruce Creek by 75.5.

The boys squad received by much more, as its 685 factors beat Spruce Creek, additionally the boys runner-up, by 290.

DeLand additionally had a swimmer fittingly break a group and meet file on the Record Breaker, as junior Lexie O’Keefe, a switch from Seabreeze, set a brand new excessive mark with a 24.5-second swim within the 50-yard freestyle.

“We don’t even have some boys that go that fast. It’s a very fast time for boys even,” Kaye stated.

Kaye has spent a decade teaching the Bulldogs’ boys group, and she or he took over the ladies roster in 2025 after longtime coach Jeanne Jendrzejewski retired following the 2024 season.

While Jendrzejewski, recognized affectionately as “Coach J,” was a beloved determine for DeLand swimming, Kaye taking on the ladies group after her retirement has added to the unity of an already-bonded group, stated swimmer Gavin Thomas.

“We had a get-together last night where we ate pasta, prepared for the meet, got our nutrition right,” Thomas stated. “We do all of our preparations for meets together, which is something I think is unique about our team and really brings us together. That’s why we all cheer together on meet day, and we’re all ready to go crazy.”

DeLand is particularly skilled this season with 16 seniors, which contributes to its bond. Plenty of them even have a reference to Kaye and one another from the West Volusia Killer Whales, a membership group Kaye’s coached within the offseason since 2014.

Some Bulldogs, together with Thomas, have swum for Kaye since she first began main the Killer Whales after they had been in elementary faculty. 

Members of DeLand’s swim group swim for West Volusia to remain match within the offseason. It additionally serves as a improvement device when DeLand wants to interchange graduating expertise, permitting the Bulldogs to routinely put collectively aggressive groups which have received the Record Breaker Invitational for the final 5 years.

“We’re constantly building up and developing there to help,” Kaye stated. “So even though we’re losing 16 seniors this year, I already, for certain, know of 10 swimmers coming up next year.”

Record Breaker outcomes

Combined scores

  1. DeLand — 1,227 factors
  2. Spruce Creek — 861.5
  3. Seabreeze — 785.5

Boys standings

  1. DeLand — 685
  2. Spruce Creek — 395
  3. Seabreeze — 337.5

Girls standings

  1. DeLand — 542
  2. Spruce Creek — 466.5
  3. Seabreeze — 448

Full outcomes might be up to date.


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