RMSC’s National Team travelled to the NCSA Spring Championships (Junior Nationals) on March 14-18 in Orlando, Florida. The meet featured over 1300 of the fastest 18&Under swimmers from all across the country, representing over 120 clubs. After many close calls in recent years, RMSC’s Boys broke through and won the team title, taking home a 1st place banner for the first time since 2008. RMSC finished 3rd in combined scoring to improve upon last year’s 4th place finish, and the Girls finished 7th. The top 24 finishers in each event scored points for the club, while the top 40 made it back to finals.
Many swimmers contributed points to the Boys’ Team Title. Adriano Arioti was our leading scorer, with 175 points. He was 1st in 200 fly (1:43.40) in a Senior National cut and Senior and 15-16 Team records, and in 200 back (1:41.66) in a Senior National cut and 15-16 Team record. He was 2nd in 200 IM (1:45.51) in a Senior and 15-16 Team record, and added a 3rd in 100 back (47.53), a 5th in 100 fly (47.27) in a 15-16 Team record, and top 16 finishes in 50 fly and 50 back (22.47) in a 15-16 Team record. Toby Barnett was also a big contributor with 166.5 points. His top finish was a 1st in 400 IM (3:43.28) in a Senior National cut, meet record, pool record, and Team record. He added another Senior National cut and Team record taking 2nd in 200 breast (1:55.86), and was also 4th in 200 IM (1:47.17), 6th in 200 back (1:45.73) and 200 fly (1:45.85), and top 16 finishes in 50 breast and 100 breast. Jed Garner took 3rd in 200 breast (1:56.96), 4th in 100 breast (54.21), and was top 16 in 50 breast. Brady Begin was 7th in 500 free (4:27.32) and 1000 free (9:11.80), and top 16 in 1650 free. Evan Mackesy had top 16 finishes in 1000 free, 1650 free, and 400 IM, and top 24 finishes in 200 back and 200 fly. Nasim Elkassem was top 16 in 100 back, and top 24 in 50 free and 50 back. Brian Wilbur finished top 16 in 100 breast, and top 24 in 50 breast and 200 breast. Owen Watkins was top 16 in 50 free and top 24 in 100 free. Cooper Zakorchemny was top 16 in 1000 free. Fletcher Bautz and Samir Elkassem each finished top 24 in 400 IM. Alex Nguyen added a top 24 in 1000 free. Nick Arndt and David Yune added top 40 finishes.
Our Girls were led by Madison Smith, who scored 80 points. She was 4th in 1000 free (9:53.73), 4th in 500 free (4:47.82) and 5th in 1650 free (16:27.57) in 17-18 Team records, and added a top 24 in 200 free. Andrea Dworak was 6th in 500 free (4:50.95), and top 16 in 200 free and 1000 free. Sarah Eliason finished 8th in 100 fly (53.72) in a Team record, top 16 in 50 back and 50 fly, and top 24 in 100 free. Amy Qin was top 16 in 50 back and 100 fly, and top 24 in 50 free and 50 fly (24.63) in a 15-16 Team record. Addison Webb broke a 25 year-old Team record in 13-14 500 free (4:54.47) with a top 40 finish. Also adding top 40 finishes were: Isla Bartholomew, Angela Kadoorie, Livia Venditti, Maria Webb, and Joyce Wu.
Many of our best swims and much of our scoring in this team effort came on relays, where RMSC had its best depth in history. In fact, all five of our Boys’ A relays broke Team records, including our 2nd place 400 Medley (Adriano Arioti, Jed Garner, Toby Barnett, Nasim Elkassem), 3rd place 800 Free (Arioti, David Yune, Samir Elkassem, Barnett), 4th place 200 Free (Owen Watkins, Nick Arndt, N.Elkassem, Arioti), 6th place 200 Medley (Arioti, Garner, Arndt, Watkins), and 10th place 400 Free (Watkins, Arioti, Yune, Arndt). In addition, all of the Boys’ B relays scored by placing in the top 24, including three in the top 16. Joining the previous names on these relays were Fletcher Bautz, Tyler Coapstick, and Parker Koenig. Our Girls’ relays were led by two podium appearances, with 8th place finishes in 200 Free (Sarah Eliason, Amy Qin, Andrea Dworak, Livia Venditti) and 800 Free (Madison Smith, Eliason, Dworak, Venditti). The Girls also had three other top 16 and two other top 24 finishes that scored for the team, as well as three other top 40 finishes. These relay contributors included: Isla Bartholomew, Lauren Clark, Elizabeth Linck, Kelsie Miller, Megan O’Hara, Reagan Phillips, Addison Webb, Maria Webb, Ashley Woo, and Joyce Wu.
During the meet, the swimmers received a generous gift from the Riley Eaton Foundation, which has supported our team trips to NCSA Junior Nationals for many years. Coach Riley Eaton was a huge part of RMSC for multiple decades, and was on the coaching staff for our previous NCSA team titles. We hope that our fast swimming and team camaraderie makes Riley proud in his retirement.