SMAC Swimming’s championship season starts strong

The Shenandoah Marlins Aquatic Club (SMAC) recently attended the Summer Awards Championship meet in Christiansburg, Virginia. This is the first championship meet of their long course season.

The following 33 SMAC swimmers attended the meet:  Hailey Ruszala (8), Sierra Sloat (7), Nicolas  Aldridge (11),  Michael Dukes (14), Alice Elkins (11), Braelin Fauber (13), Miles Fitzgerald (11), McKina Fitzgerald (14), Sydney Hill (9), Emma Hill (13), Taylor Hubbard (13), Sarah Loomis (14), Miguel Loya (9), Paige Mckellop (7), Davis Mckellop (9), Ryan Mercer (10), Matt Mercer (12), Jordan Miller (16), Rachel Murie (11), Cameron Murie (12), Ashley Painter (10), Mia Peifer (9), Ella Pickering (13), Clara Riggan (12), Maggie Riggan (15), Christian Ruszala (12), Ellie Schundler (8), Jackson Schundler (9), Hailey Sheffield (9), Hanna Shifflett (12), Tate Snyder (13), Jayla White (7) and Ben Young (10).

The following SMAC swimmers placed in the top 3 of their respective age groups:

-Nicolas Aldridge (3rd 200 free, 3rd 100 fly)

-Michael Dukes  ( 2nd 200 free, 3rd 200 IM)

–Braelin Fauber (3rd 100 back)

–Miles Fitzgerald (2nd 100 fly)

–Emma Hill (3rd 400 IM)

–Ashley Painter (2nd 50 back)

-Matthew Mercer (3rd 50 breast)

-Jordan Miller (2nd 800 free)

–Rachel Murie (2nd 50 back)

–Mia Peifer (1st 50 back)

–Christian Ruszala (3rd 50 free)

–Hanna Shifflett (1st 50 breast, 1st 200 fly, 1st 400 IM)

–Ben Young (1st 100 fly)

Other highlights of the meet included 7 swimmers posting 6 or more best times, (Aldridge, Elkins, Emma Hill, Ryan Mercer, Rachel Murie, Painter and Christian Ruszala).  Ashley Painter posted a perfect 9 best times in 9 events, and also broke a SMAC team record in the 100 fly previously set in 1988.

SMAC now heads to the Virginia Long Course State Championships for swimmers aged 14 and under followed by the YMCA National Long Course Championships.

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: http://www.smacswimming.org/