RMSC had 46 swimmers compete at the Potomac Valley Swimming 18&Under Winter Championships, held December 3-6 in Sterling, VA. The team swam extraordinarily well in the meet, which featured all of the best National-level swimmers from our LSC. By virtue of qualifying times, these swimmers’ results will also be entered in the USA Swimming 18&Under Winter National Championships, which are taking place virtually at various separate meets across the Country in the month of December.
Toby Barnett continued his record-breaking ways, taking 1st place and breaking RMSC 15-16 Team Records in 200 breast (2:00.38) and 400 IM (3:52.71). He also broke the 15-16 Team Record in 200 IM (1:50.21), taking 2nd, and recorded best times in all six of his events. Sean Santos had 1st place finishes in the distance free events, winning the 1000 (9:16.70) and 1650 (15:38.16). He added a 2nd in 500 free, was top 8 in 200 breast and 400 IM, and had five best times. Carly Sebring had a great meet, breaking the 15-16 Team Records in 100 back (55.00) and 100 fly (54.24) with a top 8 finish. She also had top 8 finishes in 50 and 100 free, and added a pair of 9ths. Everett Oehler was 2nd in 200 fly, 3rd in 200 free, and top 8 in 100 free and 100 fly. Madison Smith took 2nd in 1000 free, and added top 8 finishes in 500 and 1650 free. Jane Umhofer was 2nd in 200 breast and top 8 in 100 breast. Alvin Kimwon took 2nd in 200 breast, and had best times in both breast events. Chris Ma was 3rd in 100 fly, and had top 8 finishes in 50, 100, and 200 free, and 200 fly. Sarah Culkin had a great meet with all best times, including a 3rd place in 200 back cracking the 2:00 barrier, and top 8 finishes in 100 back, 100 fly, and 400 IM. Andrew Eliason was 3rd in 50 free, top 8 in 100 back, and broke several barriers such as 21 in 50 free and 50 in 100 back and fly. Jonik Surprenant was 3rd in 1650 free, and added top 8 finishes in 100 and 200 fly, breaking 50 and 1:50 in the process. Joyce Wu took 3rd in 100 breast and was top 8 in 200 breast. Ziad Bandak and Katherine Blake each had top 8 finishes in 500 and 1000 free, while Rachel Soubier was top 8 in 500 and 1650 free. Hanna Bingley had big time drops and top 8 finishes in 100 and 200 breast, while Erin Haines added a top 8 in 200 breast. Competing as 14 year-olds, Sarah Eliason had four top 16 finishes, while Amy Qin and Livia Venditti each added two others; and the three had best times in all of their events! Also placing in the top 16 in their events were: Nina Allen, Max Chen, Kate Cosgrove, Sean Davis, Ryan Gruner, Alison Kaiser, Niko Natsvlishvili, AJ Navaleza, Aiden Rooney, Maria Sawadogo, and Brookelynn Weinberg.