Printer Friendly Version - Valley Shore Marlins’ Swimmers Qualify for Major Meets

The Valley Shore Marlins had a cast of athletes qualify for big-time championship meets throughout the past several weeks. Pictured are (front) Vicky Van Berkel (Ivoryton), Emma Scherber (Chester), Abigail Vitola (Clinton), and Madison Schang (Madison); (middle) Evelyn Gage (Old Saybrook), Phoebe Spallone (Ivoryton), Claire Johnson (Deep River), Ella Beermuender (Clinton), and Kate Van Berkel (Ivoryton); and (back) Gabe Waldo (Old Lyme), Gus Van Berkel (Ivoryton), Lillian Miller (Madison), and Lucca Giordano (Essex). Missing from the photo is Grace MacDonald of Waterford. Photo courtesy of Teddy Weeks

After a two-year pause in championship competitions due to the pandemic, the Valley Shore YMCA Marlins swim team sent 14 of its top athletes to the postseason this year. The Marlins saw these athletes qualify for swim meets such as the Age Group Championship, Senior Championship, YMCA New England Swim Championship, and YMCA National Championship by virtue of their performances in the short-course season during the past several weeks.

Abby Vitola of Clinton qualified for both the Senior Championship and YMCA National Championship on behalf of the Marlins. Lillian Miller of Madison qualified for the Senior Championship. Lucca Giordano of Essex, Madison Schang of Madison, and Vicky Van Berkel of Ivoryton all qualified for the Age Group Championship and the YMCA New England Swim Championship.

Gus Van Berkel of Ivoryton, Miller, Gabe Waldo of Old Lyme, Kate Van Berkel of Ivoryton, Emma Scherber of Chester, Grace MacDonald of Waterford, Ella Beermuender of Clinton, Evelyn Gage of Old Saybrook, Claire Johnson of Deep River, and Phoebe Spallone of Ivoryton all qualified for the New England Championship at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Worcester, Massachusetts.

The Age Group and New England championships both took place from March 17 through 20. The Marlins competed against qualifying swimmers from throughout Connecticut and New England at those meets.

Anyone interested in joining the Marlins' swim team can contact Head Coach Teddy Weeks at Marlins@vsymca.org or visit www.vsymarlins.org. Tryouts for the 2022 long-course season for those aged 5 to 18 will be held on Wednesday, April 27 from 6:30 to 7 p.m. at the Valley Shore YMCA at 201 Spencer Plain Road in Westbrook.

From Monday, April 11 through Friday, April 22, the Marlins are offering stroke clinics for swimmers looking to improve on technique prior to the long-course season, which runs from Monday, April 25 to Friday, July 15.