The Westport Weston Family YMCA’s Water Rat Swim Team is wrapping up a highly successful 2015 Long Course season, with some fast swimming at elite meets at the state, regional and national level and setting new team records along the way.
At the recent CT Senior Long Course Championships at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Ct., the Water Rat Men’s team placed 3rd overall, with several 1st place finishes by our swimmers in individual events and relays. Jonathan Blansfield placed first in the 1500M Freestyle. The team of John Whiteside, North Woods, Bryce Keblish and Jake Hoin came in first in the 400M Medley Relay. The team of Keblish, Whiteside, Woods and Blansfield were victorious in the 800M Free Relay as well.
The fast swimming continued at the CT Age Group Long Course Championships, July 23-26. Representing the Water Rat team at Wesleyan were young swimmers Caroline Begg, Chris Fusco, Jack Gray, Dashiell Hunter, Michelle Kennedy, Katie Killian, Jacob Lee, John McNab, Sophia Miller, Kate Murray, Annam Olasewere, Nicolas Ortega, Ashleigh Piro, Regan Ryan, Sean Paul Stolarski, Austin Twiss, Riley Twiss, Olivia Utter and Charlie West.
Two Water Rats had first-place finishes and one broke two team records. Caroline Begg was the meet’s high-point scorer for the Girls 10 & Under division, becoming the state champion in the 50M Free, 100M Free, 200M Free and 400M Free. Dashiell Hunter also placed first in the 13/14 boys 100M Breast and 200M Breast, breaking team records in the process (previously held by big brother Ethan).
Beginning on July 30, Bryce Keblish, Jonathan Blansfield, John Whiteside and Sarah Grinalds will be swimming at the 2015 Speedo Junior National Championships in San Antonio, Texas. What’s more, Water Rats Daniel Williams, Jake Hoin and Kaitlyn Joy will be competing at the Futures Championships in Greensboro, N.C. Junior Nationals runs from July 30 through Aug. 3. The Futures meet runs from July 30 through Aug. 2. You can follow both meets at usaswimming.org.
Congratulations to all Water Rat swimmers for a great Long Course season!
Tryouts for the 2015-16 season will take place on Monday, Aug. 31 for swimmers ages 8 & under; Tuesday, Sept. 1 for 9-10 year olds; and Wednesday, Sept. 2 for 11-12 year olds. Pre-registration is encouraged. Water Rat tryouts take place at the Westport Weston Family YMCA’s Bedford Family Center at 14 Allen Raymond Lane in Westport.
The Family YMCA’s Water Rat Swim Team is a year-round, nationally recognized competitive swim program. The Water Rats compete in both YMCA and USA Swimming competitions that are held locally, regionally and nationally. Additionally, the Water Rats have excelled and had champions at the Zone All-Star meet, Sectional Championships, YMCA Nationals, USA Swimming Junior Nationals, USA Swimming Nationals, US Open and USA Olympic Trial Qualifiers.
The Water Rat coaching staff is well regarded throughout the swimming community. In April at the YMCA Short Course National Championships in Greensboro, N.C., longtime Head Coach Ellen Johnston was named the National YMCA Coach of the Year.
Further details are available on the Water Rat Swim Team website, www.wrat.org or by contacting Ellen Johnston, Director of Competitive Swimming, at 203-226-8981 or ejohnston@westporty.org.