This time, there were no penalties.

And an early start violation might have been the only way to derail Palmetto's boys at the Region 4-3A swimming finals Wednesday.

Under the lights of the Plantation Aquatic Complex, the Panthers dominated the competition, winning by a wide 161-point margin over second place St. Thomas Aquinas.

Last year, the Panthers fumbled in the final race of regionals and were disqualified for coming off the starting blocks too early in the 400 free relay. The snafu cost them a state title.

On Wednesday, Michael Saco and Kevin Barona led a disciplined Palmetto team to three relays wins and six gold medals, earning a trip to the the Florida State High School Athletic Association finals in Orlando next Thursday where they will be favorites to win Miami-Dade County's first public school swimming title since Coral Gables' girls' team won in 1967.

``They made all their turns, they held their turns and they hit their spots,'' said Palmetto coach David Booher, who will return to states a fully-loaded boys team and a girls team that came in a close second to St. Thomas Aquinas on Wednesday.

``Our whole team did outstanding. We missed last year by a point and now we're ready to get down to business next Thursday,'' Booher said.

Saco's time of 45.66 in the 100 freestyle earned the Panther captain an automatic All-American berth.

``You really can't say enough about him, he's been so good,'' said Booher.

Since the start of this season, the Panthers had marked Wednesday as a day to prove that 2008's mental lapse was a fluke.

``It's going to be something big for Dade county. This means a lot to our school and to the county, and now we're going to bring it back,'' said Booher. ``After last year it'll make it all the sweeter.''

Ferguson's boys finished third and will field swimmers in Orlando, but the top Falcon swimmer was Ana Anaya from the girls' team. Anaya won the 200 freestyle and 100 butterfly and also helped her team to a win as the anchor in the 400 free relay.

Krop's freshman star Nicolas Coard won the 100 backstroke with a finals-best time of 54.13. Juan Sequera won the 200 intermediate and the 100 butterfly events for Ronald Reagan.

BOYS' SWIMMING

• Region 4-3A Finals -- Palmetto 426, St. Thomas Aquinas 265, Ferguson 179, Columbus 168: 200 medley relay: Palmetto 1:40.17, Ferguson 1:41.52, Reagan 1:42.33, Western 1:42.69; 50 free: Michael Saco (Pal) 20.52, Steven Lichtner (Pal) 21.57; Giovanni Perez (Fer) 22.27; Kyle Newcomb (Pal) 22.30; 200 free: Tyler Sell (WB) 1:43.78; Dylan Marsolek (STA) 1:44.23; Roger Powell (STA) 1:47.66; Carlo Morante (WB) 1:47.79; 200 IM: Juan Sequera (RR) 1:54.58, Douglas Ramos (Col) 1:57.48, Asher Garcia (Pal) 1:57.74, Austin Manganiello 1:59.66; 100 fly: Juan Sequera (RR) 52.09; Asher Garcia (Pal) 52.28; Kevin Barona (Pal) 53.01, Kristof Kertesz (SB) 53.58; 100 free: Michael Saco (Pal) 45.66; Steven Lichtner (Pal) 46.83, Cory Perez (Fer) 48.55, Nicolas Coard (Kro) 48.70; Diving: Francisco Bacerra (MB) 611.10, Osvel Molina (Gol) 581.25, John Toomey (NE) 452.85, Brian Blum (Pal) 387.45; Tyler Sell (WB) 4:38.03, Travis Lockie (Fla) 4:40.84, Dylan Marsolek (STA) 4:42.91, Roger Powell (STA) 4:52.30; 200 free relay: Palmetto 1:26.70, Columbus 1:31.82, Coral Gables 1:31.93, St. Thomas 1:32.01; 100 back: Nicolas Coard (Kro) 54.13, Austin Manganiello (Pal) 54.85, Cory Perez (Fer) 55.50, Kyle Newcomb (Pal) 55.85; 100 breast: Douglas Ramos (Col) 59.89, Jesus Nava Suarez (Fer) 1:00.71, Craig Dohmen (CR) 1:01.34, Thomas Aycart (Sun) 1:01.95; 400 free relay: Palmetto 3:13.32, Reagan, Columbus, Ferguson.

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