This Summer, our National Team trained hard, not only at their sites each morning, but also together at combined longcourse practices twice per week. Their competition was split between three different Junior National level Championship meets that occurred at the end of July. Though the team was split, we managed many impressive results both individually and in team scoring. Here is a recap of those results:
USA Swimming Futures – Greensboro, NC, July 23-26
RMSC had 13 swimmers compete in this meet, which was one of four Regional Futures meets held simultaneously around the Country. Greensboro was perhaps the most competitive, as over 75 teams from the East were in attendance. The top 32 swimmers qualified for finals.
Celia Watkins had our top finish with a 20th in 50 back (30.48). Colton Mettler had a top 32 finish and a 15-16 Team record in 50 fly in 25.54. Charlie Begin finished top 32 in 200 free, 400 free, and 800 free. Michael Kueh was top 32 in 200 fly, Seamus Rooney finished top 32 in 200 back, while Viona Sunjaya finished top 32 in 200 breast.
Several of our relays finished in top 24 positions, including the men’s 200 and 400 free (Mettler, Rooney, Begin, GG Ancheta), and women’s 200 medley (Anika Cai, Sunjaya, Gabriela Kaiser, Anna Nishnianidze) and 400 medley (Watkins, Sunjaya, Cai, Nishnianidze). Kyle Lakhe also contributed on two men’s top 32 relays.
NCSA Summer Championships – Huntsville, AL, July 25-29
19 RMSC swimmers traveled to this meet, which featured around 1200 swimmers from over 50 teams from all over the Country. Since the events were highly contested, 40 swimmers made it back to finals, with the top 24 scoring points for the team.
We had four individual point scorers at the meet. Trevor Donley had a top 24 in 800 free (8:30.79) and 400 IM (4:36.29), and added a top 32 in 400 free and a top 40 in 200 IM. Maximus Devinney was top 24 in 200 breast (2:26.49) and 200 IM (2:10.09), and added a top 32 in 100 free. Gabby Day finished top 24 in 50 free (26.90), and was top 40 in 100 free and 100 breast. Alex Jungbluth finished top 24 in 200 fly (2:07.82), and was also top 32 in 50 fly and top 40 in 100 fly and 200 IM. Also making finals appearances with top 40 finishes were: Jack Dawson in 50, 100, and 200 breast, Deren Akselioglu in 200 fly and 1500 free, Roman Drews in 200 fly, and Lucas Kim in 200 fly.
We had many excellent team performances in relays as well. Our top relay was a top 24 in men’s 800 free (Donley, Kim, Akselioglu, Devinney). Also contributing to top 40 relays were: Mckenna Carswell, Dawson, Day, Nyah Frantz, Jungbluth, Kellie Kincaid, Andrew Kissel, JT Lakso, James Lawrence, Ethan Lee, Oliver Lutz, Ethan McCurdy, and Isaac Soles.
USA Swimming Junior Nationals - Irvine, CA, July 28-August 3
Our final Junior National meet was the most competitive, with the top 18&Unders in the Country descending on Irvine. The team had a great experience and swam at a very high level, not to mention they enjoyed the weather (and sunsets, and shopping, and In-N-Out). The top 32 swimmers qualified for finals at the meet, with the top 16 scoring for the team.
Griffin Oehler led the team with 21 individual points. He made the podium with an 8th place finish in 100 back in 56.69. He also finalled in four other events, scoring with a 10th in 200 IM in a 15-16 Team record 2:03.83, finishing top 24 in 50 back in a 15-16 Team record 26.27 and in 200 back in 2:04.31, and top 32 in 400 IM in a 15-16 Team record 4:28.27. Nick Liberty also was a scorer and record breaker, finishing 15th in 1500 free in a 15-16 Team record 15:47.28. Angela Kadoorie scored with a 15th in 200 breast in 2:34.27. Josh Lopez finished top 24 in 200 fly in 2:02.79, while Cooper Zakorchemny had a top 24 finish in 400 free in 3:59.67. Andrea Dworak finished top 32 in 200 free in 2:02.81 and 800 free in 9:01.10, while Maria Webb was top 32 in 200 fly in 2:16.91.
For the first time in many years at a meet this level, we had four men and four women qualify, which means the team could field relays! Our top relay finish was a 14th in men’s 800 free relay, with Zakorchemny, Oehler, Liberty, and Lopez scoring in 7:40.77, and all four boys recording many best time splits over the week. The women’s teams of Dworak, Webb, Kadoorie, and Viona Sunjaya also swam very well in relays with many best time splits, turning in top 24 finishes in the 400 and 800 free relays, and top 32 finishes in 200 free and 400 medley relays.