SMAC excels at the 19th annual TYR Capital Classic
The Shenandoah Marlins Aquatic Club qualified 11 swimmers for the highly competitive TYR Capital Classic Swim Meet held in Greensboro, N.C., from Dec. 16-18.
The 11 SMAC swimmers competing in the event were Jessie Arnold (14), Matt Bihl (16), Bobby Carey (14), Colleen Higgins (13), Norah Hunt (13), Steven Jenny (17), Justin Merritt (14), Alex Rayle (16), Brazil Rule (13), Remedy Rule (15) and Max Tempkin (14). The meet only had qualifying standards for boys and girls and no breakdown based on age so it was very impressive SMAC had so many young swimmers at the meet. The meet consisted of 18-and-under swimmers from Georgia to Connecticut.
All the SMAC swimmers had numerous personal best times and were working relentlessly to achieve six best times a piece so they would be awarded new swim caps from coach Norm Wright. There were many positives to the meet held at the brand new Greensboro Aquatic Center. The team traveled together, stayed in the hotel together, went to dinner together and even napped in the hotel lobby together when they couldn’t get a late checkout before finals Sunday afternoon.
Highlights of the meet included Tempkin breaking five minutes in the 500 free and placing in the top eight in five events, Jenny breaking 50 flat in the 100 free with a time of 49.22, Rayle achieving several Y national qualifying times and finishing in the top 16 in four events, Bihl dropping time in all his races, Carey with a sixth-place finish in the mile and two other top 10 finishes, Higgins dropping time in both breast stroke events even though she swam best times just a week earlier, Arnold with a second-place finish in the 200 free and sixth place in the 400 IM, Hunt with a fourth-place finish in the 500 free and the mile and eighth place in the 200 fly, Merritt qualifying for the meet in his first season with SMAC and swimming a best time in the 400 free relay, Brazil Rule for finishing sixth in the 500 free and 11th in the mile and Remedy Rule for breaking four meet records and winning six of her seven races.
Rule also set new SMAC records for the 15-and-older girls age group in all seven of her events. These records were held by Amy Charley and Ginny Griffith, who swam at the University of Missouri and University of Virginia, respectively, and Katie Keefer, who is currently swimming at the University of New Hampshire.
This was an outstanding meet for all of these young swimmers. All are to be congratulated for their perseverance the first half of the short course season (25 yard pools) and their competitiveness at the meet.
SMAC also recently received an award from USA Swimming’s Club Excellence Program. USA Swimming identifies and recognizes USA Swimming clubs for their commitment to performance excellence. They were specifically looking for programs that develop strong, well-rounded age group and senior swimmers that produce elite 18-and-under athletes. SMAC was one of only nine swim programs in Virginia to receive this honor.
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 normw@smacswimming.org.
SMAC has reason to cheer at Hoki Christmas Meet
The Shenandoah Marlins Aquatic Club (SMAC), which swims at the Waynesboro Y, sent swimmers to the Hoki Christmas Meet in Christiansburg Dec. 9-11.
Swimmers participating in the Hoki Christmas Meet were Alexis Brooks (15), Peyton Brooks (11), Chris Carmagnola (11), Lindsey Carter (15), Mackenzie Carter (12), Maya Chatterson (8), Nate Chatterson (6), Hailey Cook (10), Alice Elkins (8), Braelin Fauber (10), McKinna Fitgerald (12), Miles Fitzgerald (8), Margo Flanders (11), Alexander Flowers (13), Grace Hardiman (8), Colleen Higgins (13), Caleb Johnson (11), Ethan Johnson (9), Sarah Loomis (11), Justin Merritt (14), Jordan Miller (13), Cody Niles (16), Ella Pickering (10), Abby Prucha (6), Ben Prucha (8), John Prucha (7), Clara Riggan (9), Maggie Riggan (12), Charlotte Rumsey (11), Savannah Scarbrough (13), Hanna Shifflett (10), Tate Snyder (10), Robin Taylor (15), Madison Tegen (14), Logan Terrell (13), Elizabeth Terrell (13), Nick Wade (14), Evelyn Wade (9), Kaleb Wade (11), Kristen Wagner (9), Gannon Willcutts (14), Emma Woodworth (9), Ben Young (8), Libby Young (11) and Luke Young (9).
SMAC swam to an astounding 277 best times (over 70% of the swims were best times), 2 new AAA times, 13 new AA times, 17 new A times, 22 new BB times and 15 new B times. Time standards are set by USA Swimming to help gauge how the swimmers compete against all other swimmers in the country in their age group (AAAA is the fastest). Time standards also give swimmers new goals to accomplish as they try to achieve faster and faster time standards.
Individual highlights of the meet included: 4 new A times for Peyton Brooks, 2 new A times for Fauber, 1 new A time for Flowers, 3 new AA times for Higgins, 1 new A and 1 AAA time for Merritt, 2 new AA and 2 A times for Miller, 1 new A time for Riggan, 1 AAA, 2 AA and 2 A times for Rumsey, 1 new A time for Scarbrough, 1 new AA time for Snyder, and 1 new A time for Wagner. First place finishers included P. Brooks (50 fly), Miller (500 free), Merritt (100 fly), Rumsey (50 breast) and Willcutts (200 fly). Those finishing in the top three included: Brooks (2nd 100 fly and 100 back and 3rd 50 back and 200 fly), Fauber (2nd 50 back, 100 fly, 100 IM and 3rd 100 back, 50 fly, 200 IM), Higgins (2nd 200 breast), Miller (2nd 200 fly), Riggan (3rd 200 free and 100 Breast), Rumsey (2nd 50 back and 100 breast and 3rd 100 IM and 200 IM), Wagner (2nd 50 free, 100 free, 200 free, 100 back, 200 IM and 3rd 50 back, 100 fly and 100IM) and Willcutts (2nd 500 free, 3rd 100 fly and 400 IM). The youngest age group at the Meet was 10 and under and Maya Chatterson (8) swam great against the older competition and broke 4 SMAC Records for the girls 8 and under age group. Her new records were set in the 200 free, 100 back, 100 fly and 200 IM. This was an outstanding meet for all of these young swimmers. All are to be congratulated for their hard work in the pool and their competitiveness at the meet.
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 normw@smacswimming.org.
For more information about SMAC, please visit their website: www.smacswimming.org.
Above Left: Chris Carmagnola (11) and Caleb Johnson (11) at backstroke start. Above Right: Peyton Brooks (11) swimming breast stroke
Above Left: Gannon Willcutts (14) at freestyle start. Above Right: Charlotte Rumsey (11) swimming breast stroke.
SMAC leads the way at the SMAC Fall Invitational Swim Meet
The Shenandoah Marlins Aquatic Club, which practices at the Waynesboro Y, hosted the annual SMAC Fall Invitational Nov 19 and 20 at the Waynesboro YMCA. This meet was open to all, but the focus of the meet was for the younger swimmers from Charlottesville to Roanoke.
The following SMAC swimmers participated in the meet: Alexis Brooks (14), Peyton Brooks (11), Chris Carmagnola (11), Lindsey Carter (15), Mackenzie Carter (12), Maya Chatterson (8), Nate Chatterson (6), Hailey Cook (10), Megan Cross (6), Violet Cross (6), Gabby D’Alessandro (4), Rece D’Alessandro (8), Alice Elkins (8), Braelin Fauber (10), McKinna Fitgerald (12), Miles Fitzgerald (8), Margo Flanders (11), Grace Hardiman (8), Maddie Harris (8), Kristen Holman (11), Norah Hunt (13), Alexander Flowers (13), Caleb Johnson (11), Ethan Johnson (9), Sarah Loomis (11), Hunter McMillion (14), Justin Merritt (14), Jordan Miller (13), Cody Niles (16), Ashley Painter (8), Ella Pickering (10), Abby Prucha (6), Ben Prucha (8), John Prucha (7), Alexander Randolph (14), Clara Riggan (9), Maggie Riggan (12), Brazil Rule (13), Charlotte Rumsey (11), Morgan Ryalls (10), Rebekah Ryalls (13), Eli Scarbrough (7), Savannah Scarbrough (13), Jackson Sherman (7), Hanna Shifflett (10), Tate Snyder (10), Madison Tegen (14), Logan Terrell (13), Elizabeth Terrell (13), Mattie Tindall (10), Sam Tindall (7), Ben Vincent (8), Nick Wade (14), Kristen Wagner (9), Emma Woodworth (9) Ben Young (8), Libby Young (11) and Luke Young (9).
This was the largest contingent of SMAC swimmers (59) in many years to participate in our Fall Invite. It is great to see this many young swimmers competing in a sanctioned USA Swimming event, many for the first time, and all showing remarkable improvement. The highlight of the meet was when the girls 10-and-under relay team won the 200 medley relay beating the teams from Charlottesville and Carter Center Aquatics from Roanoke. The girls on the relay team were Maya Chatterson, Ella Pickering, Braelin Fauber, and Kristen Wagner. The individual highlight of the meet was 8-year-old Chatterson. She won five events and came in second in two other events and set seven new SMAC records in the following events (50 free, 100 free, 200 free, 25 fly, 50 fly, 50 back and 100 IM). Miles Fitzgerald Kristen Wagner also set new SMAC records in the 50 fly and 1000 free respectively.
SMAC won many races throughout the weekend and placed in the top three in numerous events. Congratulations to the following swimmers who had first-place finishes:
L. Carter (15-16 girls) mile, Nate Chatterson (6 and under boys) 25 back and 100 free, Hunt (13-14 girls) mile, C. Johnson (11-12 boys) mile, 200 fly and 400 IM, Merritt (13-14 boys) 50 free, 100 free, 200 free and 100 back, Niles (15-16 boys) 500 free, mile and 100 breast, McMillion (13-14 boys) mile, Randolph (13-14 boys) 1000 free and 100 breast, Maggie Riggan (11-12 girls) mile, Rumsey (11-12 girls) 400 IM, Scarbrough (13-14 girls) 100 breast and Snyder (10 and under boys) mile.
SMAC swimmers will be competing at meets in Christiansburg and Greensboro the next two weekends. Excellent results are expected as the swimmers have been practicing diligently leading up to the highly competitive meets before Christmas.
For more information regarding SMAC swimming contact Coach Norm Wright, Director of Competitive Swimming at the Waynesboro Y at 540.942.5107 or email him at normw@smacswimming.org.
For more information about SMAC, please visit their website: www.smacswimming.org.
SMAC off to a good start at the Rays Pumpkin Meet
The Shenandoah Marlins Aquatic Club, which practices at the Waynesboro Y, competed in the Rays Pumpkin Meet in Fredericksburg on Oct. 22-23. This was the first meet of the short-course (25-yard pools) season, and SMAC swimmers showed their improvement since the previous season.
The following SMAC swimmers participated in the meet: Jessie Arnold (age 14), Matt Bihl (16), Alexis Brooks (14), Peyton Brooks (11), Bobby Carey (14), Lindsey Carter (15), Mackenzie Carter (12), Maya Chatterson (8), Braelin Fauber (10), McKinna Fitgerald (12), Miles Fitzgerald (8), Margo Flanders (11), Alexander Flowers (13), Olivia Heeb (14), Colleen Higgens (13), Norah Hunt (13), Steven Jenny (17), Sarah Loomis (11), Hunter McMillion (14), Jordan Miller (13), Ella Pickering (10), Alex Rayle (16), Maggie Riggan (12), Brazil Rule (13), Charlotte Rumsey (11), Savannah Scarbrough (13), Hanna Shifflett (10), Madison Tegen (14), Max Tempkin (14), Logan Terrell (13), Elizabeth Terrell (13), Nick Wade (14), Kristen Wagner (9), Gannon Willcutts (14), Emma Woodworth (9) and Libby Young (11). Read more
Y swimmer has Olympic dreams
She had the time cut in her mind, but she wasn’t sure she’d do it this year. And then she looked up at the time on the scoreboard.
“I couldn’t believe it. I was like, Is that my time?” said Remedy Rule, who qualified for the 2012 U.S. Olympic swimming trials in two events, the first being the 200 backstroke, and then later adding a qualifying time in the 200 butterfly.
Rule, a freshman at Western Albemarle High School, started swimming competitively in the Shenandoah Marlins Aquatic Club program at the Waynesboro YMCA as a grade-schooler five years ago. Read more
