A small yet fierce group of RMSC swimmers headed down to Greensboro NC to compete at USA Swimming’s Winter National Championships.
RMSC finished a combined 7th place with the Men’s team finishing 6th overall. The Men were represented by Alex Colson (15pts), Jacob Rosner (2pts) and Ryan Vipavetz (44pts).
Ryan leading the way is RMSC’s newest National Champion winning the 200 Butterfly in a RMSC Team Record of 1:59.43. The swim was also a pool record as well as an Olympic Trials qualifying time. They say there is strength in numbers, RMSC had 3 swimming in the 200 Fly that night. Alex Colson finished just behind Ryan in a 2:01.55 which earned him a 4th place finish and Jacob Rosner achieved a 21st place finish with a 2:07.76.
(watch Alex and Ryan swim here)
Alex Colson also swam in the 200 IM and the 100 butterfly. Finishing 27th and 35th respectively.
Jacob Rosner also competed in the 800, 400, 200 freestyle events. Finishing 15th in the 400 free with a time of 4:02.57. Jacob had a very consistent showing finishing in the top 21 in 3 of his 4 events (20th, 15th, 21st).
Ryan qualified for Olympic Trials 2 days prior to his National Title in the 400 Freestyle in a team record 3:56.67 placing 6th. He was also 8th in the 800 Free and swam the 100 Fly (39th), 200 Free (34th).
RMSC’s ladies were represented by Catherine Belyakov, Kaitlin Gravell and Joyce Wu.
Kaitlin Gravell was able to score 3pts in the 400IM on her way to a RMSC Team Record 4:54.56 and a 14th place finish. She also swam in the 200IM and 200 Breastroke.
Catherine Belyakov competed in the 200IM, 100Fly, 100 and 200 Breastroke events. With consistency in her races, placing in each event from 30th-39th.
Joyce Wu, our youngest competitor at age 14 swam in the 100 and 200 Breastroke. Finishing in 47th (100BR) and 57th (200BR) we certainly will be watching Joyce continue to hone her racing skills as we head in the RMSC’s Holiday Invitational.
Congratulations to all of our athletes who competed at Winter Nationals. With a National Champion and Olympic Trials qualifier, RMSC is looking forward to see what our athletes are made of heading into the rest of the season.
You can see all of the Finals events on the USA Swimming Website or on USA Swimmings YouTube Page