Summer league swimming kicked off this past Saturday, June 16, in the DCCL, MCSL, ODSL, PMSL and PWSL, and it didn't take long for records to start falling in the 2012 season. As expected, there were a number of close meets and even closer races as teams started their campaigns towards their division championship. Checkout snapshots from a handful of the weekend's meets, along with some featured summaries below.
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Dominion County Club League
River Bend CC‘s Will Koeppen and Mount Vernon CC‘s John Bradshaw took down five league records between them on the opening weekend of competition.
Koeppen, 10-year-old, set records in the boys' 9-10 50-meter freestyle (31.34 seconds), 50 backstroke (35.62), 25 butterfly (16.00), and 100 individual medley (1:20.35). He now holds six individual league records in total, including two 8 & under records set in 2010. He would have seven, but Bradshaw (8) began his season by eclipsing Koppen's boys' 8 and under 25 backstroke record by 0.3 of a second for a new record of 19.13 — an area-best time in the event. Bradshaw was also close to Koeppen's freestyle record and just over a second off Ryan Tomajczyk's 8 and under breaststroke record set in 2008. Riverbend beat International Town & Country Club 326 to 190 in the effort. MVCC fell to Springfield Golf & Country Club, 209 to 291.
Montgomery County Swim League
New league record!
Daniel Chapman took down the MCSL record in the boys' 9-10 50 freestyle with a record setting time of 29.56 [edit], besting Timmy Ellett's record from last year by a slim 0.15 of a second. The Plantations star broke the record while swimming up in the 11-12 50 freestyle where he placed second to Poolesville‘s Theodore Jagodits (12) who is ranked fourth overall in the event after week one. Jagodits bested Chapman three times as Poolesville won 404.5 to 368.5.
Sharks eat up Whales
Whales' Alec Van Bronkhorst (15) swims in the boys' 15-18 100-meter backstroke. Bronkhorst swam using only one arm after dislocating his shoulder earlier in the week. (Photos by Evan Franke)
Egan Nales earns three firsts for North Chevy Chase in their win against Whetstone on Saturday. The 10-year-old won the 9-10 boys' 50 freestyle, 25 back and 25 butterfly by wide margins. He also finished third in the 12 and under 100 IM behind two swimmers a year older.
Old Georgetown falls to Darnestown in Division B
At age 8, Darnestown‘s Harrison Cerone stood out above the rest on Saturday as Old Georgetown fell to Darnestown, 336 to 455. Cerone won three events and set a new team record in the boys' 8 and under 25 breaststroke (21.06) — the area's fourth fastest 25 breaststroke split in the last four seasons. Cerone won the 25 backstroke and 25 butterfly as well.
“He's finally eight,” said Darnestown Coach Kate Ulicny. “He's been very good since he was six and is now at the top of his age group.”
Old Georgetown opened the meet well with a win by John Wills in the boys' 11-12 100 individual medley, but from that point on Darnestown showed its impressive depth, sweeping eight events.
Leading Darnestown's girls in the victory was 13-year-old Jaycee Yegher who won the 13-14 50 freestyle (30.16), 100 IM (1:12.67), 50 breast (35.71), and 50 fly (33.61) in commanding fashion.
“Depth played a major factor today,” said Old Georgetown coach Connie Smink. “We asked our kids to come out and swim with good technique and to never give up. They did that and we came away with a lot of personal bests today. I couldn't be prouder.”
For Old Georgetown, Carsten Vissering stepped in after the first half of the meet to win the boys' 15-18 100 IM (1:02.37) and 100 breaststroke (1:06.85), breaking the pool records in each. Both swims were tops in the league.
In his third event, the 50 butterfly, Vissering lost to his friend and Curl-Burke teammate Gregory Song, 28.32 to 28.68. Both swimmers smiled at each other in friendly competitiveness as they rose from the water after the touch, a testament to the jocular nature of summer league swimming.
Old Georgetown will travel to Potomac Glen next week as both teams look to rebound from week one losses. Also on the road, Darnestown will continue their 2012 campaign against the Manchester Farms Blue Dolphins, who dropped a close one to Woodley Gardens in week one.
Merrimack Park drops opener against Garrett Park
(Photo provided by Garrett Park)
Garrett Park Ladybugs won big at home over Merrimack Park, 422 to 365, behind the efforts of quadruple winners Kevin Berry (14) and Fletcher Tollefson (18).
Wildwood bests Franklin Knolls
(Photo provided by Wildwood Manor)
Wildwood Manor Wombats beat Franklin Knolls, 429 to 363.
Penguins upset Dolphins in Week One matchup in Division F
By Dillon Mullan
It was an all-around great performance for Little Falls as its posted 18 all-star cuts in 50 total events as a team. The nine point defeat should in no way discourage the visitors from Damascus who were without a few of their top performers.
“We didn’t know where our team stood compared to the other teams in the division” said Little Falls Coach Arielle Fein. “Moving up two divisions was a scary thought, but we have a deep team and a lot of swimmers who can compete.”
Rachel Danegger starred in the victory for the Penguins, winning the 100 IM, 50 freestyle, 50 breaststroke, and 50 butterfly in girls’ 11-12 age group.
Continue reading…
Prince William Swim League
Braemar starts hot against Dominion Valley
(Photo provided by Braemar)
(Photo provided by Braemar)
Victory Lakes edges Piedmont by two points
(Photo by Roy Smith)
12-year-old Taylor Welch led the Victory Lakes Piranhas in their 2,640 to 2,638 win with three individual victories. Her closest race was in the 50 freestyle where she touched nearly three seconds ahead of second place.
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