Andrea Dworak and Griffin Oehler Earn Spots on All-Star Team Trip to London!!
RMSC’s National Team travelled to the NCSA Spring Championships (Junior Nationals) on March 18-22 in Orlando, Florida. The meet featured over 1200 of the fastest 18&Under swimmers from all across the country, representing over 100 clubs. RMSC finished 8th in combined scoring to improve upon last year’s 4th place finish; separately the Boys and the Girls each finished 9th. The top 24 finishers in each event scored points for the club, while the top 40 made it back to finals. In addition, this meet was a selection meet, as two of the top eligible finishers in each event qualified to represent Team USA on the NCSA All-Star team that will compete at the Adam Peaty Race Invitational in London, England this May, against an international field of top swimmers.
Andrea Dworak was our team’s leading scorer with 110 points. She qualified for the London trip with her 1st place finish in 200 free, in a Team record 1:46.56. She was also 4th in 500 free, 6th in 100 free, 8th in 1000 free, top 24 in 50 free, and top 32 in 200 back. Griffin Oehler led our Boys with 99 points. He qualified for London with a 3rd place finishes in 200 back (1:43.03) and 200 IM (1:47.70). He also broke the Team record in 200 free with a 1:36.93, finishing 9th, added a 9th place in 100 back, and a top 24 in 100 fly. We wish Andrea and Griffin the best as they train for London!
Two others joined Dworak and Oehler as medalists with top 8 finishes. Quinn Marchionini took 6th in 50 back, was top 16 in 100 back, top 24 in 50 fly, 100 fly, and 200 IM. Angela Kadoorie was 7th in 200 breast, top 16 in 200 IM and 400 IM, and top 24 in 100 breast and 200 fly.
A host of other RMSC swimmers made finals appearances. Cooper Zakorchemny finished top 16 in 1000 free and 1650 free, and top 24 in 500 free. Charlie Begin had a top 16 in 200 back, top 24 in 100 back, top 32 in 500 free, and top 40 in 200 free and 50 back. Josh Lopez was top 16 in 1000 free, top 24 in 500 free and 200 fly, and top 32 in 200 free. Maximus Devinney was top 16 in 200 IM and top 24 in 400 IM. Viona Sunjaya placed top 16 in 200 breast, top 32 in 100 breast, and top 40 in 50 breast. Maria Webb was top 16 in 200 fly and top 32 in 400 IM. Alex Nguyen finished top 24 in 500 free and 1000 free, and was top 32 in 1650 free. Nick Liberty was top 24 in 1650 free and top 32 in 1000 free. Alex Jungbluth was top 32 in 50 fly and 200 fly, and top 40 in 100 fly and 400 IM. Gigi Ancheta finished top 32 in 50 back, Isla Bartholomew was top 32 in 200 breast, while Anna Nishnianidze was top 32 in 50 free. Also adding top 40 finishes were: Deren Akselioglu, Mckenna Carswell, Gabby Day, Trevor Donley, Grant Haley, Colton Mettler, Seamus Rooney, and Celia Watkins.
Many of our best swims and much of our scoring in this team effort came on relays. Our top finish was a 6th in the Boys’ 400 free relay of Griffin Oehler, Quinn Marchionini, Tyler Coapstick, and Josh Lopez. Two other relays made the podium with top 8 finishes: the Girls’ 400 free relay of Gabby Day, Andrea Dworak, Maria Webb, and Anna Nishnianidze, and the Boys’ 800 free relay of Oehler, Lopez, Charlie Begin, and Cooper Zakorchemny. The Girls also had three other top 16 and two other top 24 finishes, while the boys had two other top 16 and one other top 24 finish, all of which scored for the team. Additional contributors to these relays included: Isla Bartholomew, Anika Cai, Mckenna Carswell, Alex Jungbluth, Angela Kadoorie, Gabi Kaiser, Kellie Kincaid, Mimi Moore, Seamus Rooney, Viona Sunjaya, and Celia Watkins.
Congratulations to our National Team! They will be in action again this Summer at a host of competitions, including Senior Nationals in Indianapolis, IN, USA Junior Nationals in Irvine, CA, and NCSA Summer Junior Nationals in Huntsville, AL.