The Shenandoah Marlins Aquatic Club swim team at the Waynesboro YMCA placed fourth at the Virginia Southwest Regional Swim Meet.
The meet was held at the Virginia Tech Pool in Christiansburg from July 15-17 and teams from Richmond west competed in the long course competition. A long course meet in which a 50 meter pool is used and equals the distances swam in the Olympics. Swimmers that post fast enough times are eligible to swim in the state championship meets to be held this coming weekend in Richmond for 15 and older swimmers and in Christiansburg for 14 and under swimmers.
SMAC brought the following 42 swimmers to the meet: Nick Alrdidge (13), Emily Breeden (10), Emma Davis (11), Gabriele Devito (9), Graham Devito (11), McKina Fitzgerald (16), Miles Fitzgerald (13), Jessica Harrop (8), Taylor Hubbard (15), Miguel Loya (11), Brianna Mason (9), Davis McKellop (11), Page McKellop (9), Matt Mercer (14), Ryan Mercer (12), Rachel Murie (13), Cameron Murie (15), Gabby Niculescu (12), Mia Piefer (11), Anna Richardson (7), Clara Riggan (13), Maggie Riggan (17), Hayden Ruszala (12), Christian Ruszala (14), Hailey Ruszala (10), Ellie Schundler (10), Jackson Schundler (12), Haley Sheffield (11), Sierra Sloat (9), Skylar Sloat (6), Julia Smith (11), Tate Snyder (15, Joey Thornberry (12), Rowland Thornberry (10), Anna Weaber (10), Aiden Weaber (8), Jayla White (9), Jakiah White (8), Anna Wissler (10), Sterling Wissler (8), Emma Woodworth (14) and Ben Young (12).
SMAC swam a total of 200 lifetime best times out of 300 total swims. A lifetime best time is when a swimmer swims a race faster than they have ever swum that race previously. SMAC had 20 swimmers with at least 6 lifetime best times during the meet. The swimmers were: Emma Davis, Graham Devito, Brianna Mason, Matt Mercer, Cameron Murie, Rachel Murie, Gabby Niculescu, Christian Ruszala, Hailey Ruszala, Hayden Ruszala, Haley Sheffield, Jackson Schundler, Ellie Schundler, Sierra Sloat, Skylar Sloat, Tate Snyder, Rowland Thornberry, Anna Weaber, Aiden Weaber and Sterling Wissler. Special congratulations go out to the five swimmers who had a lifetime best time in every race they swam: Sierra and Skylar Sloat, Tate Snyder, Anna Weaber and Sterling Wissler.
The highlights of the meet were14 first place finishes and 10 swims making the state championship qualifying time. The swimmers winning a race included: Davis McKellop – 11/12 boys (400 IM and 50 breast), Hailey Ruszala – 10 and under girls (100 back & 50 back), Ellie Schundler – 10 and under girls (100 free & 200 free, Haley Sheffield 11/12 girls (50 fly), Tate Snyder – 15 and over boys (100 & 200 fly and 400 free), Rowland Thornberry – 10 and under boys (100 back & 50 breast), Anna Wissler – 10 and under girls (50 fly) and Ben Young – 11/12 boys (200 IM). The swimmers making the state championship meet were Davis McKellop – 100 free, Matt Mercer – 50 free, Rachel Murie – 50 free, Hailey Ruszala – 50 & 100 back, Jackson Schundler – 50 fly, Ellie Schundler – 50 & 200 free, Anna Wissler – 50 fly and Ben Young – 200 IM.
Congratulations to all the swimmers for their hard work and dedication to the sport of swimming. The results are a direct result of the time and effort spent in the pool during practice.
If you have interest in swimming contact Coach Scott Thacker at the Waynesboro Y at 942-5107 or email him at [email protected]
For more information about SMAC, visit their website: www.smacswimming.org.
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