RMSC Swimmers Compete at Toyota U.S. Open

RMSC’s top swimmers travelled to Richmond, VA to compete in the Toyota U.S. Open, on November 12-14.  Due to capacity restrictions, the meet was held nine sites across the Country, with all swimmers and coaches socially distanced.  100 of the top men and 100 of the top women in the East competed at the Richmond site.  The meet was in Long Course meters, which was challenging, as our swimmers had not competed in long course since August, 2019 due to COVID. 

Toby Barnett broke the team record in 15-16 400 IM, finishing 7th in 4:34.24.  The record had stood for 34 years, and was held by Olympian and former World Record Holder Mike Barrowman.  He added a 6th in 200 breast and 7th in 200 IM, with all three of his swims in best times.  Abby Carr was 6th in 100 fly and 8th in 200 fly.  Sean Santos was 7th in 1500 free and 8th in 200 breast, and had best times in all three of his swims.  Chris Ma added an 8th in 200 fly, and a best time in 50 free.  Carly Sebring, Jane Umhofer, and Joyce Wu each added top 16 finishes, and were each just off their best times.  In addition, RMSC alumnus and current Harvard swimmer Jaycee Yegher accompanied us to the meet, and swam an outstanding 1st place 1:09.12 in 100 breast, and added a 3rd in 200 breast. 

Our National Team will next compete at the PVS 18&U Winter Championships, from December 3-6 in Sterling, VA.

COVID Can’t Slow Down RMSC NTG Showdown

RMSC held a COVID-safe version of its annual NTG Showdown, October 10-11 at Martin Luther King Jr. Swim Center in Silver Spring, MD.  Swimmers and coaches from each of the NTG groups were drafted into three teams: Red, White and Blue.  The meet was scored with Hy-Tek power points, and split into four sessions for facility capacity reasons.  Despite the challenges these swimmers faced this Summer and Fall, there were dozens of lifetime bests and several new Junior National cuts at the meet.

In a tightly contested meet, the "White Team" came out on top.  They were led by Chris Ma, who won the 50 free (21.69), 100 free (46.68), 100 fly (49.91), and 200 fly (1:49.38), and Carly Sebring, who won the 50 free (23.81), 100 free (51.24), and 200 free (1:50.44).  They also got wins from Sean Santos in 500 free (4:34.73) and Andrew Eliason in 100 back (51.34).

"Blue Team" took second, led by Katherine Blake's wins in 500 free (4:57.90) and 400 IM (4:25.21), Jane Umhofer's win in 200 breast (2:18.32), and Everett Oehler's win in 200 free (1:41.32). 

Despite the “Red team's” 3rd place finish, they had the two top individual scorers at the meet.  Toby Barnett won all five of his events in five best times, scoring his first U.S. Open cut and a new 15-16 Team Record with a 2:00.89 in 200 breast, and also taking the 200 IM (1:50.84), 400 IM (3:55.38), 100 breast (56.98), and 200 back (1:51.27).  Abby Carr also won her five events: 100 back (55.16), 200 back (1:59.47), 100 fly (54.70), 200 fly (1:59.57), and 200 IM (2:04.18).  Joyce Wu added a win in 100 breast (1:04.78).

Swimmers from all teams showed the club's excellent depth.  In addition to the above event winners, USA Swimming 18&U Winter Championship qualifying times were earned at the meet by: Nina Allen, Ziad Bandak, Hanna Bingley, Sean Colson, Kate Cosgrove, Sarah Culkin, Sean Davis, Sarah Eliason, Sophie Elliott, Gabe Fouts, Jed Garner, Erin Haines, Rin Iimi, Alvin Kimwon, Maddie Mara, Liam McDonough, Amy Qin, Maria Sawadogo, Eamon Smith, Madison Smith, Rachel Soubier, Jonik Surprenant, and Pierre Zeineddin.

SwimSwam.com also picked up on some of the fast times at the meet:

https://swimswam.com/toby-barnett-and-alvin-kimwon-battle-to-breakout-200-breaststroke-swims/

Thanks to Montgomery County Recreation and the City of Rockville for pooling time and resources to make this event happen, and to run smoothly and safely.

Select members of RMSC’s National Team will next be in action on November 12-14 at the Toyota U.S. Open, which will be held at multiple sites due to capacity restrictions.  Toby Barnett, Abby Carr, Chris Ma, Sean Santos, Carly Sebring, Eamon Smith, Jane Umhofer, and Joyce Wu will be competing at the Richmond, VA site, against top local and National swimmers.

Five RMSC Swimmers Named To USA Swimming Scholastic All-America Team

Congratulations to RMSC's five 2019-2020 USA Swimming Scholastic All-Americans!

Sarah Culkin, Chris Ma, Sean Santos, Carly Sebring and Pierre Zeineddin were all named to this prestigious team.  They achieved this honor with a combination of high-level success in the classroom and in the pool.  Qualifiers are required to maintain a 3.5 GPA and achieve at least one USA Swimming Winter Junior National qualifying time.

For more information on the team you can visit: 

https://www.usaswimming.org/news/2020/09/17/over-1-000-swimmers-named-to-2019-2020-scholastic-all-america-team

2020 RMSC NTG Showdown

The 2020 NTG Showdown will be held on Saturday, October 10 & Sunday, October 11, 2020 at the Martin Luther King Jr Indoor Swim Center in Silver Spring, MD.

Below are the links for the Meet Programs

Saturday, October 10 - Boys Session

Saturday, October 10 - Girls Session

Sunday, October 11 - Boys Session

Sunday, October 11 - Girls Session

Ladies & Gentlemen, for your viewing pleasure this swim meet will be live-streamed on Facebook Live each day! Each days video will be available from 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm.

Day 1 (Saturday Session) - NTG Showdown Day 1 will be at - https://fb.me/e/1GXIu5CqD 

Day 2 (Sunday Session) - NTG Showdown Day 2 will be at - https://fb.me/e/1XgTdKvwG

Ordering RMSC Personalized Caps

Families, It is that time to order personalized silicon team swim caps for your swimmer!

RMSC Name Caps - order a set of swim caps for your child with their name on them.

https://t-shirtpeople.com/rmsc_arena_silicone_name_caps/shop/home

NAME CAPS ORDERS DUE 10/31

Additional RMSC Team Apparel (Swim suits, hoodies, bags, jackets & pants) is also available online at https://www.casselsonline.com/swim/club-swim-team/rockville-montgomery-swim-club.html

Swim Practice Equipment

SWIM EQUIPMENT

Parents below is a list of equipment needed by our swimmers athletes for each practice.  Swimmers, please bring your swim equipment to all practices. If swim equipment is needed please visit https://www.casselsonline.com

COUNTY SITES  

Minis*, Juniors*, Junior 1*, Junior 2* & Advanced Juniors* – Kickboard, Fins & Mesh Bag 

Seniors *, Advanced Seniors * & NDG * – Kickboard, Fins, Paddles & Mesh Bag

NTG * - Alignment Kickboard, Fins, Paddles & Mesh Bag

*Pull Buoy & Snorkel are also suggested for these groups 

CITY OF ROCKVILLE

ISS & Junior 2 – Kickboard, Fins & Mesh Bag. Junior 1 Add Paddles & Pull Buoy 

Junior Select, Seniors, Senior Dev., Advanced Seniors & HSTP – Kickboard, Fins, Paddles & Mesh Bag 

NTG – Kickboard, Fins, Paddles, Snorkel, Pull Buoy & Mesh Bag

COVID-19 RMSC Update

Dear RMSC Coaches & Families,

With news coming out all the time, the Administrative team wanted you to know of our commitment to get our swimmers back in the pool.  Our supervisors have been working with our administrative coaches to put together multiple practice plans that will satisfy any and all guidelines from both the CDC and USA Swimming.  When we receive the go ahead from County Executive Elrich and the Department of Health, we will be mobilizing quickly in order to get the program running again in some capacity.

Our message to you is to be ready!  We believe that we are getting close to an announcement of being allowed to return.  While we cannot share any specific dates, times, or parameters until after we hear that announcement, our goal is to have swimmers in the water as soon as possible.  We ask that you please be ready on very short notice to begin the process of return.  When permitted, we will send you all guidelines and specifications, as well as the schedule for swimmers to practice.  Initially, the County’s limitations on capacity will dictate that we cannot run full group schedules.  Please be advised that as restrictions change (presumably lighten), your swimmer’s schedule will likely change as well, in an effort to increase their water time available while maintaining safety and providing adequate time and space for the public to swim.  We recognize that swimming a limited schedule may not be ideal for training, but given the circumstances, we hope that you will focus on what water time you are getting rather than what water time you are not getting. 

Because of these unique times, we understand that there are concerns with health and safety.  We assure you once again that we will follow all CDC and USA Swimming protocols upon our return to the pool.  If you do not feel comfortable sending your swimmer to practice at this early stage of return, there will be no penalty in terms of group attendance requirements.  But in the event that you do not feel comfortable sending your swimmer to practices at all this Summer, we ask that you contact us and email rec.aquatics@montgomerycountymd.gov, to initiate a withdrawal from the program, and that you consider rejoining when the new registrations occur for the Fall.

We apologize for the inconvenience and we thank you for your patience through these difficult times.  Please understand that we have been working continuously to prepare for our return, but we must wait until we receive clearance from the County before that return can happen.  Now that it is in sight, we hope you are getting excited about a return to the pool, in whatever form it takes place.

Stay safe and healthy,

RMSC Administrative Team

COVID-19 RMSC Update

RMSC Families:


While the info released on (May 28, 2020) was not what any of us wanted to hear we do know that that our County Executive and Public Health Officer are working tirelessly to insure that when we do return to operations  - it is in the safest set of protocols for everyone...

MC Aquatics has been working tirelessly with the County Health Dept team and National, Regional and local experts in the field to have our outdoor pools ready to go in the safest way possible.    We have also been working with the Health Dept to make sure our opening plans will meet all the expectations and safety measures put in place for the next few months

We have received some very creative and innovative suggestions from our Coaches for restarting practices.  The MC Aquatics Team is working to utilize some of these ideas in the new programming (practice scheduling) of our pools.

Please know that we are doing everything we can to get our swimmers back in the pool. Thank you for your patience and understanding

Stay Safe,

RMSC & MCR Aquatics

COVID-19 RMSC News

RMSC Families,

Montgomery County Recreation appreciates your patience as we determine the best move forward for our swimmers.  The recent announcement of schools and aquatic facilities being closed until April 24, has lead to the following decisions regarding our RMSC program. 

For anyone requesting a pro-rated refund for the remaining portion of the season, you must email rec.aquatics@montgomerycountymd.gov by April 20, 2020.  Any swimmer who opts for a refund, will need to attend try-outs (held in July) to secure a spot in the 2020-2021 RMSC Program.  Please provide your swimmers name, pool/site, and group name in your refund request.

If you do not request a refund, a pro-rated credit will be applied to your account based on the date swimmers return to the water.  

Swimmers graduating from our program (current High School Seniors), who remain till the end of the season, will received a pro-rated credit based on the date swimmers return to the water. As a graduating Senior if you would prefer the pro-rated credit to be refunded at the end of the season please send an email to rec.aquatics@montgomerycountymd.gov with the subject line "RMSC Graduating Senior Refund" by April 20, 2020.  You must also include your swimmers name, pool/site and group name in your email.

The Spring Long Course Meet originally scheduled for May 1 - 3 will not be held. However, we are working to find alternate dates to hold the event.  More information will be shared as it becomes known.  

Our goal is have swimmers in the water as quickly as possible.  

Please check www.rmscswimming.org and www.mocorec.com for updated information regarding re-opening after April 24. 

Stay Well,

Montgomery County Recreation Aquatics

COVID-19_closures.jpg

RMSC’s Alex Bacon commits to swim at Binghampton University

Alex Bacon, a current high school senior at Sherwood High School, has committed to swim for Division 1 Binghamton University in New York. Bacon will graduate from high school in May 2020 and join Binghamton’s class of 2024.

Bacon currently swims for Rockville Montgomery Swim Club and has been a scoring finalist at the Eastern Zone South Region Sectionals and the Eastern Zone Senior LC Championships for three years.

Along with her achievements in the pool, Bacon has been recognized as a Potomac Valley Swimming Scholar Athlete.

Congratulations!

https://swimswam.com/rmsc-senior-alex-bacon-commits-to-d1-binghamton-university/


Carr, Colson and Vipavetz Receive World Top 100 Awards

USA Swimming has named recipients of the World Top 100 Awards for 2019.  Abby Carr, Alex Colson and Ryan Vipavetz were named to the list for their 2019 performances with RMSC, by way of being ranked in the top 100 in the world among 18 & Unders.

Coincidentally, all three secured their world rankings in 200 fly.  Ryan, now a freshman at Virginia Tech, was 24th.  Alex, now a freshman at Arizona State, was 49th, and was also 61st in 100 fly.  Abby, a Junior, was 89th, and was also 99th in 100 fly.

Congratulations to our world-ranked award winners!

RMSC Swimmers Succeed in the Pool and the Classroom

RMSC had an outstanding 83 recipients of the 2018-2019 Potomac Valley Swimming Scholar Athlete Award.  The award recognizes success both in the classroom and the pool; these swimmers have received this award based on attaining a 3.5 or higher grade point average for the entire 2018-2019 school year, as well as achieving a 3.5 or higher USA Swimming event standard average in a minimum of five events.

For the list, please see: http://rmscswimming.com/collegiate-decisions

Congratulations to our Scholar Athletes!

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.