The Colonel Crawford swim team hosted their annual Hawaiian Invitational on June 25.
Swimmers and parents alike are decked out in island garb and many even decorate their canopies and tents. Halfway through the meet, the swimmers gather on deck to dance to a playlist featuring annual favorites like “YMCA,” “The Chicken Dance”, “Cotton-Eyed Joe” and “La Macarena.”
According to coach Dina Snow, “Mt. Gilead has won the Aloha Team Spirit Award for at least 10 years in a row, but this year, Bucyrus was ready for us and had planned all their decorations and costumes for weeks!”
Although only a portion of the team attended the meet, their efforts did earn the Barracudas the runner-up trophy.
“I was very proud of the swimmers. We used to try to get the Aloha trophy because we weren’t really in the running to score enough points for any other award. With our team depth in the relays and the strength of our boys team, we pulled it off!” said Snow. “It is also a unique meet because the age groups are switched around from what the swimmers are used to in regular competition, so they might swim against much older swimmers.”
First place relay finishes were earned by the 12-13 boys medley relay (Michael Snopik, Tyler Knight, Joel Conrad and Eric Mowery); Scoring second place in relay events were the 15-18 boys medley relay (Logan Conrad, Evan Zmuda, Casey Conrad and Gavin Robinson); and the 10-11 boys free relay (Joel Conrad, Nathan Rabun, Hawke Littell and Carson Mowery).
Also scoring important relay points were the 10-11 girls medley relay (Keana Littell, Kyndra Irwin, Grace Mowery and Kaylee Gibson); the 14-up girls medley relay (Kylie Irwin, Cassandra Snopik, Adriana Tinch and Emily Knight); the 8-9 girls free relay (Jacquelyn Gibson, Ryann Brinkman, Kaydence McKenzie and Gabby Brinkman); the girls 10-11 free relay (Kyndra Irwin, Keana Littell, Kaylee Gibson and Syntyche Black); the girls 12-13 free relay (Kylie Irwin, Adriana Tinch, Grace Mowery and Taylor Robinson); the girls 14-up free relay (Erin Zmuda, Cassandra Snopik, Emily Knight and Rachel Davis); the boys 14-up ‘A’ free relay (Evan Zmuda, Logan Conrad, Casey Conrad and Gavin Robinson); and the boys 14-up ‘B’ free relay (Tyler Knight, Michael Snopik, Eric Mowery and Alexander Koller).
Gold medal winners in the individual events were Joel Conrad, 100 IM, 25 fly and 25 breast; and Evan Zmuda, 100 breast.
Silver medalists were Evan Zmuda, 200 IM; Carson Mowery, 25 fly; Eric Mowery, 50 fly; Erin Zmuda, 100 fly; Casey Conrad, 100 fly; Ryann Brinkman, 50 free; Tyler Knight, 50 breast; and Erin Zmuda, 100 breast.
Bringing home bronze were Evan Zmuda, 100 free; Gabby Brinkman, 50 free; Eric Mowery, 100 free; Hawke Littell, 25 back; and Erin Zmuda, 50 free.
Team members adding to the individual event point total were Gavin Robinson 200 IM,100 back and 100 breast; Jacquelyn Gibson, 25 free and 25 back; Carson Mowery, 25 free; Nathan Rabun, 25 free and 25 back; Eric Mowery, 50 free; Tyler Knight 50 free and 100 free; Michael Snopik, 50 free and 50 back; Emily Knight, 100 free and 100 breast; Logan Conrad, 50 free, 100 free and 100 back; Casey Conrad,100 free and 200 free; Grace Mowery, 25 fly and 25 breast; Adriana Tinch, 50 fly; Keana Littell, 50 free; Kaylee Gibson, 50 free; Ryann Brinkman, 25 back; Gabby Brinkman, 25 back; Kyndra Irwin, 25 back; Kylie Irwin, 50 back; Rachel Davis, 100 back; and Xander Koller, 100 back and 100 breast.
On Wednesday, June 29, the team travelled to Galion for a regular season meet. Point totals were not available at press time, but the team swam well.
“Congrats to Abby Griffith for competing in her first meet, and I am also proud of Jacquelyn Gibson who swam with an injured foot just so her relay could participate!” said Snow.
First place finishers: 11-12 girls medley relay (Skye Shipman, Kyndra Irwin, Madison Hack and Keana Littell); 13-14 girls medley relay (Kylie Irwin, Grace Mowery, Adriana Tinch and Rachel Davis); Joel Conrad, 100 IM, 50 fly and 100 free; Evan Zmuda, 200 IM; Ryann Brinkman, 25 free; Hawke Littell, 25 free and 25 back; Adriana Tinch 50 free and 50 fly; Erin Zmuda, 100 free, 100 back and 50 free; Brice Haughn, 25 fly and 50 free; Madison Hack 100 free; Mason Kidwell, 50 back; Kylie Irwin, 50 back; Sammie West, 50 back; Luke Frazier, 25 breast; the girls 11-12 free relay (Irwin, Hack, Shipman and Michaela McGill); the 11-12 boys free relay (Mason Kidwell, Joel Conrad, Bradley West and William West); the 13-14 girls free relay (Adriana Tinch, Grace Mowery, Rachel Davis, and Keana Littell); the 15-18 girls free relay (Erin Zmuda, Shelby West, Kylie Irwin and Emily Knight).
Additional team points were added by the 15-18 boys medley and free relay (Gavin Robinson, Evan Zmuda, Casey Conrad and Daniel Freeman); Sammie West, 100 IM and 50 fly; Gavin Robinson, 200 IM; Morgan Staley and Kendall Neal, 25 free; Garrett Baldwin, 25 free and 25 back; Ellie Rhea, 25 free and 25 back; Kaydence McKenzie, 25 free and 25 back; Brice Haughn, 25 free; Nathan Rabun, 25 free and 25 back; Grace Mowery, 50 free and 50 breast; Keana Littell, 50 free and 50 back; Mason Kidwell, William West, Kylie Irwin, Rachel Davis, 50 free and 50 back; Eric Mowery, 50 free and 100 free; Emily Knight and Daniel Freeman, 100 free; Carson Mowery, 25 fly; Casey Conrad, 100 fly and 100 back; Ryann Brinkman, 50 free and 25 back; Addie Rhea, 25 breast; Kyndra Irwin, Michaela McGill and Kylie Irwin, 100 free; Tyler Knight, 100 free and 50 breast; Evan Zmuda, 200 free and 100 breast; Wesley Bush, 50 back and 50 breast; Shelby West, 100 breast; the 8-under girls free relay (Ryann Brinkman, Kendall Neal, Morgan Staley and Gabby Brinkman); the 9-10 girls free relay (Kaydence McKenzie, Addie Rhea, Ellie Rhea and Jacquelynn Gibson); and Luke Frazier, 50 free.
The team will wrap up the season with a dual meet with Upper Sandusky today, followed by the league championships at Bucyrus on July 9.
