The Barracuda Swim Team wrapped up their summer season at the ASAC League Championships in Loudonville on Saturday.
“This is a big meet with all seven teams in our league, so the kids are trying to do their best while waiting a long time between events. As expected, Ontario was the overall winner—with over 80 swimmers competing compared to our 40—but I was very pleased with how everyone did. We had such a cold start to the season, combined with not being in our own pool until June 13, that we all felt like we just hit our groove and it is time to be done!” remarked coach Dina Snow.
“Our girls came in fourth overall and the boys were sixth, with our combined point total earning us sixth place,” added the coach. “We did have several medalists make the podium and there were some excellent races. My main goal is just to see kids excited to improve their own times, and we saw a lot of that! We also had some swimmers that had to step outside their comfort zones so we could fill relays. I appreciate all the parents who volunteered in various jobs throughout the meet and who were so supportive during this weird season!”
Meet highlights include watching the 9-10 girls medal in both the medley and free relays, as did the 15-18 boys.
“The boys free relay swam the last race of the meet, and our guys were neck and neck with the team from Upper Sandusky. MG just missed the silver medal by 0.09 seconds! The crowd was pretty pumped up for that race!” said Snow.
Connor Robinson set the league record in the 50 breaststroke and also won the MVP award for 11-12 boys at the meet by winning all three of his individual events and scoring in relays.
Seniors were also recognized at the meet with the gift of a team towel. Abby Kincaid was Mt. Gilead’s only senior this year.
Gold medal finishes: Evan Irons in the 13-14 boys 50 back; Connor Robinson in the 11-12 boys 100 IM, 50 free and 50 breast; Trinity Robinson in the 9-10 girls 25 breast; and the 9-10 girls 100 free relay (Lacey Haughn, Harper McClelland, Jackie Edwards and Emma Marquis).
Silver medalists: Abby Griffith, 13-14 girls 50 free and 50 back; Evan Irons, 50 breast; Jaxon Tinch, 15-18 boys 50 fly; Carter Marquis, 8-under boys 25 back; Trinity Robinson, 9-10 girls 25 back; Luke Fraizer, 15-18 boys 50 breast; and the 9-10 girls medley relay (Emma Marquis, Trinity Robinson, Jackie Edwards and Lacey Haughn).
Bronze medalists: Abby Griffith, 13-14 girls 100 IM; the 15-18 boys medley and free relays (Nate Rabun, Luke Fraizer, Jaxon Tinch and Hayden McClelland).
Because this meet was so big, fourth through sixth place finishes were also included due to the amount of points scored.
Fourth place finishes: 13-14 boys medley relay (Ben Griffith, Connor Robinson, Evan Irons and Aaron Rabun); Hudson Jenks, 6-under boys 25 free; Evan Irons, 13-14 boys 100 IM; Jackie Edwards, 9-10 girls 25 free and 25 fly; Ben Griffith, 11-12 boys 50 back and Nate Rabun, 15-18 boys 50 back;
In fifth place: the 11-12 girls medley relay (Adylynn Brown, Addison Rabun, Chloe Bolton, and Harper McClelland); the 13-14 girls medley and free relay (Makayla Carlisle, Camryn Travis, Kayla Young and Avery McClelland); Jaxon Tinch, 15-18 boys 100 IM and 50 free; Lacey Haughn, 9-10 girls 25 free; Chloe Bolton, 11-12 girls 50 breast; Kendall Neal, 15-18 girls 50 breast and the 11-12 girls free relay (Adylynn Brown, Addison Rabun, Chloe Bolton and Trinity Robinson).
Coming in sixth: the 15-18 girls medley relay (Abigail Griffith, Kendall Neal, Cassidy Irwin and Emma Bolton); Carter Marquis, 8-under boys 25 free; Jackie Edwards, 9-10 girls 25 back; Hayden McClelland, 15-18 boys 50 back and the 15-18 boys ‘B’ free relay (Evan Irons, Nolan Hershner, Griffin McClelland and Niles Bush).
“I applaud all the top finishers, but I am proud of all the swimmers who did their best and brought in additional points to add to our team total. As a small team, we are not able to fill all the events, which affects our ability to score. Several swimmers swam some tough events just so we could score. That means a lot,” said Snow.
These swimmers scored in events other than those listed above: Chloe Bolton, 100 IM and 50 fly; Emma Bolton, 100 free, 100 IM and 50 breast; Brayden Jones, 25 free, and 25 back; Ethan Hanshaw, 25 free; Avery McClelland, 50 free and 50 breast; Adylynn Brown, 50 free and 50 back; Ben Griffith, 50 free; Makayla Carlisle, 50 free; Aaron Rabun, 50 free, 50 back and 50 breast; Kendall Neal, 50 free; Cassidy Irwin, 50 free, 100 free and 50 back; Nate Rabun, 50 free; Kayla Young, 50 fly; Blake Grimm, 25 back; Holden Jenks, 25 back; Addison Rabun, 50 back; Ricky Edwards, 50 back; Abby Kinkaid, 50 back; Gabriella Bateman, 25 breast; Norah Jenks, 25 breast; Paxton Colegrove, 25 breast; Avery McClelland, 50 breast; Camryn Travis, 50 breast and Niles Bush, 100 free and 50 breast.
The 9-10 boys free relay (Paxton Colegrove, Carter Marquis, Brayden Jones and Blake Grimm); the 13-14 boys free relay (Ben Griffith, Connor Robinson, Ricky Edwards and Aaron Rabun) and the 15-18 girls free relay (Cassidy Irwin, Kendall Neal, Emma Bolton and Abigail Griffith) also added to the relay point total.
The team will celebrate with a pool party and awards ceremony on July 24 at the Mt. Gilead Pool.
Information received from Dina Snow.
