RMSC Swimmers Compete at Toyota U.S. Open

Five RMSC swimmers traveled to Atlanta, GA to compete at the Toyota U.S. Open.  Our top finisher was Abby Carr, who made finals in all three of her events.  Abby recorded 15-16 and Senior Team Records in 100 back (1:03.74) and 100 fly (1:01.04), and added a best time in 200 fly (2:15.09).  Catherine Belyakov also made finals in 200 breast (2:35.83), and added a best time in 200 IM.  Also swimming well were Molly Benson in 200 fly, Eamon Smith in 200 back, and Jane Umhofer in 100 and 200 breast.

In addition, RMSC alumnus Griffin Alaniz of Florida State University, qualified for 2020 U.S. Olympic Trials by placing 5th in 100 back in 54.76, and added another Trials cut with a 2:01.65 in 200 back.  Several other RMSC alumni competed in the meet, including Arizona State’s Alex Colson, Villanova’s Kaitlin Gravell, and Virginia Tech’s Ryan Vipavetz.

National Team competes at NCSA Summer Junior Nationals

RMSC’s National Team recently traveled to Indianapolis, Indiana to compete at NCSA Summer Long Course Junior Nationals on August 6-10. Many of the fastest 18&Under swimmers in the country competed at the meet, representing approximately 120 clubs. 37 swimmers and six coaches made the trip, and the team finished in 11th place. The top 24 finishers scored points for the club, while the top 32 made it back to finals.

Catherine Belyakov led the team in scoring with 84 points, including top 8 finishes in 100 and 200 breast (1:12.21 and 2:36.85) and 200 IM (2:20.72), and a top 16 in 50 breast. Joyce Wu also made the podium with top 8s in 50 and 100 breast (33.15 and 1:12.23), and a top 16 in 200 breast. We also had top 16 finishes by Abby Carr and Molly Benson in 200 fly, Kaitlin Gravell in 400 IM, Sean Santos in 1500 free, and Jane Umhofer in 200 breast. Also qualifying for finals swims with top 32 finishes in individual events were: Ziad Bandak, Zach Bayler, Ryan Gruner, Cody Kim, Alvin Kimwon, Chris Ma, Drew Munson, Maria Sawadogo, Andrei Schwartz, Eamon Smith, Jonik Surprenant, Andie Weitzman, and Pierre Zeineddin. In addition, Toby Barnett broke the 21 year-old team record in 13-14 200 breast with a 2:27.26.

We also had some excellent performances in relays. Our highest finishes came in the boys’ 800 free relay (Kim, Surprenant, Bandak, Munson) and 400 medley relay (Schwartz, A.J. Navaleza, Ma, Munson), both taking 9th. We also had a new team record 4:21.52 in the girls’ 400 medley relay by Sarah Culkin, Belyakov, Carr, and Tia Thomas, as they finished top 16.

Three RMSC swimmers received another special honor: Abby Carr, Joyce Wu and Chris Ma were selected by the NCSA to attend the NCSA training camp at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs this September. They earned the selection by having high finishes among 16&Under swimmers in Olympic events.

In addition, Belyakov, Benson, Carr, Gravell, Schwartz, Umhofer, and Wu qualified for the 2019 Toyota U.S. Open (Winter Nationals), to be held this December in Atlanta, GA.

Congratulations to everyone on some fast swimming

J.Wu and C.Belyakov top 8 in Women’s 100 Breastroke

J.Wu and C.Belyakov top 8 in Women’s 100 Breastroke

Away they go...Cheadle to Maine and Loayza to York College of Penn.

Long-time teammates Quintin Cheadle and Andrew Loayza are happy to announce their college commitments for the fall of 2019. The two train together at Rockville-Montgomery Swim Club and are also teammates at Col. Zadok Magruder High School and on the Summer League team, Norbeck Hills Swim Club.

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QUINTIN CHEADLE – UNIVERSITY OF MAINE

Cheadle has verbally committed to the Black Bears and plans to study Business: “I chose the University of Maine because of their amazing hospitality and superior academic outlook. The campus is beautiful and the coaching staff is great. I can see myself growing as a swimmer, intellectually, and as a person at the University of Maine. Go black bears!”

Cheadle specializes in fly and free and recently competed at the Eastern Zone Sectionals in Christiansburg, VA, making multiple finals appearances. He is team captain at Col. Zadok Magruder High School, and finaled at the 2019 Washington Metropolitan Interscholastic Swimming & Diving Championships (“Metros”).

Top SCY times:

  • 200 fly – 1:55.62

  • 1650 free – 16:32.62

  • 1000 free – 9:50.00

  • 500 free – 4:48.47

Cheadle would have been Maine’s top 200 flyer and miler and third-fastest 500 freestyler in 2018-19. He would have joined freshman Conor Hughes and junior Kevin Kane in the B final of the 500 free at 2019 America East Championships. He would have placed 7th in the 1650 free, just ahead of Hughes, and he would have been an A-finalist in the 200 fly with Kane and freshman Rooster Cardin.

Photo courtesy of the Loayza family

ANDREW LOAYZA – YORK COLLEGE OF PENNSYLVANIA

Loayza verbally committed to the Spartans and plans to study Mechanical Engineering: “I chose York College because it provides me with the best opportunity to succeed academically and athletically. The moment I walked on campus, the coach and team made me feel right at home. I am excited to join such an amazing learning environment. Go Spartans!”

Loayza swims back and free and recently competed at the Eastern Zone Sectionals in Christiansburg, VA. He scored at the Maryland 4A/3A State High School Championships for Col. Zadok Magruder High School.

Top SCY times:

  • 200 back – 1:57.97

  • 500 free – 4:52.00

  • 1000 free – 10:08.44

  • 1650 free – 17:11.77

Loayza would have been the 3rd-fastest 200 backstroker, the third 500 freestyler, and the second miler on the York squad this year. He would have scored in the top-8 of the 500 free, 1650 free, and 200 back at the 2019 Capital Athletic Conference Championships. He will overlap two years with Keven Stahl who placed 12th in the 1650 free and 14th in the 500 free at 2019 NCAA Division III Championships. He will also swim one year with backstroker Greg Williams and two years with Connor McIlroy.

Cheadle and Loayza become the 5th and 6th seniors from the RMSC-Olney National Training Group’s class of 2019 to commit to swim in college, joining Natalie Dobrzykowski (University of Delaware), Drew Munson (Towson University), Ryan Vipavetz (Virginia Tech), and Nathan Watts (U.S. Naval Academy).

RMSC's Catherine Belyakov Commits to Duke in 2020.

Duke University has received a new verbal commitment from Gaithersburg, Md. breaststroker Catherine Belyakov beginning in the 2020-21 season.

Belyakov swims year-round with Rockville Montgomery Swim Club and owns a pair of U.S. Open cuts with three additional Winter Junior standards. She most recently competed at NCSAs where she finished 10th in both the 100/200 breast and achieved four new lifetime bests. She competed in four events at Winter Nationals in November and capped off her long course season with three top-6 finishes at NCSA LCM Championships. Also competing for Quince Orchard High School, the NISCA All-American has won the 100 breast and 200 IM the past two seasons at the Maryland 3A/4A State Championships.

She told Swimming World:

“I am thrilled to announce my verbal commitment to swim and study at Duke University. I am beyond thankful for the support of my family, friends, coaches and teachers! #GoDuke”

Her best times include:

  • 100 breast – 1:01.67

  • 200 breast – 2:14.69

  • 200 IM – 2:01.41

  • 400 IM – 4:22.27

  • 100 fly – 54.44

Belyakov will make an immediate impact when she arrives in Durham as a member of the class of 2024. Even with 1.5 years of club swimming still to go, she would’ve scored in the C-final of both breaststroke events at the 2019 ACC Championships.

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Spring NCSA Junior Nationals Recap

RMSC’s National Team recently travelled to Orlando, FL to compete at NCSA Junior Nationals on March 19-23.  The meet featured approximately 1500 of the fastest 18&U swimmers in the country, representing nearly 200 clubs.  Each event was fiercely competitive, often featuring over 200 swimmers, and occasionally over 300.  The top 24 finishers scored points for the club, while the top 40 made it back to finals.  51 swimmers and six coaches made the trip, and the team produced some of our best results in several seasons, culminating with the Boys receiving a new banner for finishing 2nd with 659 points. Combined, the team finished 5th overall with 793 points, and both Boys and Combined were over 200 point improvements from last season. 

Many of the best swims in this team effort came on relays, where for the first time in many years, all five Boys A relays made the podium (top 8).  The quartet of Steven Mendley, Timmy Ellett, Alex Colson, and Ryan Vipavetz finished 2nd in the 200 Free Relay and 6th in the 400 Free Relay.  Colson, Ellett, Connor Din, and Vipavetz finished 4th in the 800 Free Relay.  Andrei Schwartz, Ellett, Colson, and Mendley took 4th in the 400 Medley Relay and 5th in the 200 Medley Relay.  Our depth also showed through as two B relays added points with top 16 finishes: the 800 Free Relay (Mendley, Marrick Golladay, Cody Kim, Bobby O’Donnell) and the 400 Medley Relay (Max Casey-Bolanos, Zach Bayler, Chris Ma, Vipavetz). 

Individually, Ryan Vipavetz led the team with 120 points.  He won the 1000 free (9:07.56), made the podium with top 8’s in 500 free and 200 fly, was top 16 in 200 free, and top 24 in 100 fly.  Alex Colson also cracked the 100 point mark, featuring 1st place finishes in 100 fly (47.32) and 200 fly (1:45.40), top 16 finishes in 100 IM and 400 IM, and top 24 finishes in 50 free and 200 IM.  Timmy Ellett was top 8 in 200 IM and 400 IM, top 16 in 200 back and 100 IM, and top 24 in 100 breast and 200 breast.  Steven Mendley was top 16 in 50 fly and added top 40 finishes in 50 free, 100 free, and 200 free.  Chris Ma was top 16 in 100 fly, top 24 in 200 fly, and top 40 in 50 fly.  Andrei Schwartz was top 24 in 50 back and top 40 in 100 back.  Also adding top 40 finishes were: Zach Bayler, John Clado, Sean Santos, and Pierre Zeinnedin. 

On the Girls’ side, Catherine Belyakov was our top scorer with 60 points.  She had top 16 finishes in 50 breast, 100 breast, 200 breast, and 100 IM, and a top 24 in 200 IM.  Kaitlin Gravell had top 16 finishes in 1000 free and 400 IM, and a top 40 in 200 breast.  Joyce Wu was top 24 in 50 breast and added a top 40 in 100 breast.  Also adding top 40 finishes were: Molly Benson, Abby Carr, Sarah Culkin, and Sophia Ryan.

The Girls scored points with top 24 finishes in the 800 Free Relay (C.Belyakov, Benson, Natalie Dobrzykowski, Ryan), 200 Medley Relay (Kate Cosgrove, C.Belyakov, Carr, Benson), and 400 Medley Relay (Ryan, C.Belyakov, Carr, Benson).  Also contributing to top 40 relays were: Anastasia Belyakov, Moshelle Borjigin, Meaghan Doyle, Katie Gould, Alli Marney-Bell, and Tia Thomas.

Once again, we appreciate the generous contribution from the Riley Eaton Foundation to help make this trip possible.  The National Team will next be in action at Long Course NCSA Junior Nationals in Indianapolis this August 6-10.

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RMSC's Natalie Dobrzykowski Commits to Delaware

Rockville-Montgomery Swim Club’s Natalie Dobrzykowski has committed to study and swim for the University of Delaware in the fall of 2019 in the class of 2023.

“I chose the University of Delaware because of the welcoming team, coaches, and academic opportunities. I can’t wait to be a Blue Hen!”

Dobrzykowski is a senior at Colonel Zadok A. Magruder High School in Rockville, Maryland, where she is captain of the swim team. She recently competed at the 2019 MPSSAA 4A3A State Championships and placed 2nd in the 100 free (52.05) and 4th in the 100 back (58.89). Both times were personal bests.

In club swimming, Dobrzykowski increased her training load for her senior year and moved up to Rockville-Montgomery Swim Club’s National Training Group in April 2018. She had a successful long course season last summer, improving in all her events and landing three top-16 finishes at the Eastern Zone Senior Long Course Championships.

Dobrzykowski would have been the 2nd-fastest 100 freestyler and 200 backstroker, the third 200 freestyler, and the 6th 100 backstroker on the Blue Hens’ squad this year.

Top times include:

  • 100 free – 52.05

  • 200 free – 1:52.70

  • 100 back – 58.89

  • 200 back – 2:04.37

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RMSC 11-12's Set 2 National Age Group Records

Rockville Montgomery Swim Club’s mixed 11-12 relay team of Hannah Carr, Calix McCormick, Tyler Coapstick, and Amy Qin took down two short course 11-12 mixed free relay NAG records at the 2019 Potomac Valley 14&U Junior Olympic Championships last weekend.

In the mixed 200 free relay, Carr led off in 25.53, McCormick split 23.94, then Coapstick went 23.71, and Qin anchored in 24.20 for a final time of 1:37.38. The previous record of 1:38.43 was from 2018.

In the mixed 400 free relay, Qin led off in 53.42, then Carr split 54.29, then McCormick went 52.35, and Coapstick anchored in 51.23 for a final time of 3:31.29. The previous record of 3:58.08, was set in 2017.

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Nathan Watts commits to the United States Naval Academy

Rockville Montgomery Swim Club’s Nathan Watts has committed to the Naval Academy for this coming fall. - You can view the article here

“The opportunities the Academy provides both academically and athletically are unlike any other. The team and coaching staff are phenomenal and I am excited to be joining the Brigade of Midshipmen. Go Navy! Beat Army!”

TOP TIMES

  • 500y free – 4:36.10

  • 100y free – 9:25.82

  • 1650y free – 15:44.74

Watts excels the longer the distance. The Rockville High School senior is the defending 500 free champion after his winning performance in the event last year at the Maryland 4A/3A HS Championships, where he was also 10th in the 100 back. Last summer, he finished 5th in the 1500m free at the 2018 Eastern Zone Championships.

Watts is a 2017-2018 USA Swimming Scholastic All-American, and is captain of the Rockville High School Swim Team.

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RMSC is Hosting a 50th Anniversary Reunion

The Rockville Montgomery Swim Club proudly invites all alumni, parents and friends of RMSC to a 50th Anniversary gathering. Held at the Social Hall of the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre on the grounds of the Rockville Mansion (603 Edmonston Drive Rockville MD 20851) on December 28th from 7pm - 11pm.

Food, Beer and Wine will be available.

There will be a $20 charge for this event.

We are greatly looking forward to celebrating what is in our opinion, the greatest program that the City and County have ever had.

We look forward to catching up with generations past, recent and parents of the current team members.

See you on the 28th -

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RMSC Swimmer breaks Venezuelan National Record.

While RMSC was in Greensboro NC at USA Swimming Winter Nationals fellow team member Jorge Otaiza ventured to his home country of Venezula for some competition of his own.

Jorge broke the National Record in the 100M Butterfly in a time of 55.92. On his way to victory in the 50M Butterfly he broke the RMSC team record with a time of 25.75, eclipsing the old mark of 25.92.

Jorge also finished first in the 50, 100 Freestyles as well as the 200 Butterfly. Narrowly missing the RMSC Team Record in the 50 Free.

Congratulations to Jorge.

RMSC Earns 7th place at USA Winter Nationals

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