Printer Friendly Version - Valley Shore YMCA Marlins Compete at Connecticut Long Course Championships

The Valley Shore YMCA Marlins saw plenty of representation the Connecticut Long Course Swim Championships. The Marlins’ team includes (back) Abigail Vitola (Clinton), Kaeleigh O’Donnell (Ivoryton), Grace Sweeney (Old Saybrook), Daniel Chen (Madison), Connie Pan (Old Lyme), Lauren Lee (Old Saybrook), and Kelsey O’Donnell (Ivoryton); (front) Senior group coach Timothy Landen, Brandon Beaudoin (Old Saybrook), Lucca Giordano (Essex), Gun Van Berkel (Ivoryton), Anna Macauley (Ivoryton), and Head Coach Teddy Weeks. Photo courtesy of Karen Sweeney

Numerous swimmers who compete for the Valley Shore YMCA Marlins headed to Wesleyan University to compete at the Connecticut Long Course Swim Championships for swimmers aged 14 and younger that was held from July 26-29. The long-course season takes place during the summer and each lap is an Olympic-style length of 50 meters, as opposed to the short-course winter season, where laps are an American-style 25 yards.

Old Saybrook resident Brandon Beaudoin, age 10, made the qualifying long-course time in the boys’ 10-and-under age group for the 100-meter butterfly. Lucca Giordano (10) of Essex qualified in the 50 butterfly for that division, while Gus Van Berkel (10) of Ivoryton qualified in the 50 and 100 breaststroke.

Qualifying in the girls’ 11-12 age group were Anna Macauley (12) from Ivoryton in the 200 backstroke, Kelsey O’Donnel (12) from Ivoryton in the 50, 100, and 200 breaststroke, as well as the 200 backstroke; and Elly Rothrock (12) of Deep River in the 200 butterfly.

In the girls’ 13-14 year-old age group, qualifiers for the Marlins included Lauren Lee (13) from Old Saybrook in multiple relays; Connie Pan (14) from Old Lyme in the 50 and 100 freestyle, Grace Sweeney (14) from Old Saybrook in the 100 and 200 butterfly, 400 individual medley, the 800 and 1,500 freestyle, and 200 breaststroke; and Abigail Vitola (14) from Clinton in the 100 and 200 backstroke, in addition to the 200 and 400 freestyle.

Additionally, Daniel Chen (16) from Madison, Kaeleigh O’Donnell (15) from Ivoryton, and Grace Sweeney made the long-course time cut for the Connecticut Senior Championships. Chen qualified in the 100 and 200-meter breaststroke, the 800 and 1,500 freestyle, the 200 and 400 individual medley, 200 butterfly, and the 100 and 200 backstroke. O’Donnell made it in the 200 breaststroke, while Sweeney qualified in 100 butterfly and the 200 butterfly. Chen and Sweeney also qualified to compete on the Connecticut team against swimmers from the New England, Mid-Atlantic, Allegheny Mountain, Adirondack, and Potomac Valley regions at the Eastern Zone Competition that took place in Richmond, Virginia.

Numerous team records were shattered by the Marlins during this long-course season, including Chen breaking the boys’ age 15-and-over records in the 200 and 400 individual medley, the 100 and 200 backstrokes, 200 butterfly, plus the 400, 800, and 1,500 freestyle. Sweeney broke the 200 butterfly record for the girls’ 13-14 year-old age group.

The Marlins’ short course winter season begins on Monday, Sept. 10, and the program is accepting new members. Tryouts for interested swimmers will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 4 from 5 to 6 p.m. For info, contact Head Coach Teddy Weeks at weekst11@gmail.com.