The Waynesboro YMCA year-round competitive swim team (SMAC) had the largest turnout in history for the Fall Invite at the Waynesboro Y and used the excitement of the large crowd to set three new SMAC team records.
Haley Sheffield set a new record for the girls 8 and under 25 free with a time of 15.68 besting the previous record by almost a full second, Davis McKellop lowered the SMAC Team Record for the boys 8 and under 500 free with a time of 7:50.12 lowering the previous record by 5 seconds and Miles Fitzgerald broke the Team record in the 10 and under boys mile with a time of 22:48.71 lowering the record by almost a full minute. SMAC continues a tradition of over 40 years to develop and produce some of the state’s best swimmers.
The SMAC Fall Invite was attended by 380 swimmers from Charlottesville to Roanoke. Many new SMAC swimmers were competing in their first official USA Swimming Meet. The young swimmers performed amazing for their first meet and were not overwhelmed by the sheer number of swimmers at the Y competing against them. The swimmers brought snacks, electronic games, books, cards, and many other items to keep themselves occupied in the Y gym between races. They listened to music, read books, played games and had a good time while they were waiting to be summoned, via a wireless sound system, to the pool for their race. Once they were called to the pool they lined up behind the starting blocks and listened for the official whistle for them to climb onto the starting blocks. Once they were on the blocks they listened for starting judge to tell them “Take Your Mark” and the sound of the horn to start the race. While parents and teammates cheered they started one of many races for the weekend.
SMAC had an enormous number of 60 kids participating in the meet. The swimmers included: Cameron Aenchbacher (6), Nicolas Aldridge (10), Chloe Aldridge (5), Savanna Becerra (10), Elle Brookings (10), Emily Capone (8), Amber Cason (7), Avery Clarck (11), Megan Cross (8), Virginia Davis (8), Michael Dukes (13), Alice Elkins (10), Braelin Fauber (12), McKina Fitzgerald (14), Miles Fitzgerald (10), Alexander Flowers (15), Brodie Franklin (10), Quinn Franklin (7), Grace Hardiman (10), Emma Hill (12), Sydney Hill (8), Taylor Hubbard (13), Grace Ispen (6), Phoenix Kowell-Ure (9), Charles Kulp (9), Carson Lawhorne (9), Sarah Loomis (13), Migual Loya (9), Davis Mckellop (8), Paige McKellop (7), Matthew Mercer (11), Ryan Mercer (9), Justin Merritt (16), Cameron Murie (12), Rachel Murie (10), Mia Peifer (8), Ella Pickering (12), Lydia Pickering (7), Clara Riggan (11), Maggie Riggan (14), Charlotte Rumsey (13), Haily Ruszala (7), Jackson Schundler (9), William Schundler (5), Haley Sheffield (8), Hanna Shifflett (12), Sierra Sloat (7), Julia Smith (8), Tate Snyder (12), Jack Straight (6), Kristen Wagner (11), Jayla White (6), Anna Wissler (7), Erin Wissler (9), Sterling Wissler (6), Keelin Wolfe (16), Emma Woodworth (11), Ben Young (10), Libby Young (13) and Jake Zamalis, (16).
In addition to the broken team records other highlights included over 200 personal best times. The number of best times does not even include first time swimmers because they do not have a previous best time in which to compare their time. SMAC swimmers who had first place swims included Aenchbacher (6 and under girls – 25 back), Fauber (11/12 girls – 5 first place finishes), Flowers (15/16 boys – 400 IM and 200 breast), S. Hill (6 and under girls – 50 breast), Loomis (13/14 girls – 200 free), D. McKellop (8 and under boys – 25 free & 200 free), C. Murie (11/12 girls – 200 free & 50 back), Sheffield (8 and under girls – 25 free), Snyder (11/12 boys – 50 fly & 100 fly), and Wagner (11/12 girls – 6 first place finishes).
The SMAC swimmers who have met a qualifying time standard will be traveling to Pittsburgh, PA December 13-15 for the 52nd Annual Pittsburgh Christmas Meet. SMAC has swimmers from 5 to 18 years old participating on the Team and anyone who can swim at least 1 length of the pool freestyle and backstroke is eligible to join the Team. Call Coach Norm Wright to set up an appointment for a tryout.
For more information regarding SMAC swimming contact Coach Norm Wright, Director of Competitive Swimming at the Waynesboro Y at 942-5107 or email him at [email protected]
For more information about SMAC, please visit their website: www.smacswimming.org.
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