Number of Stoughton Aqua Racers Turn in a Number of Memorable Performances
After a couple of quiet weeks off from competition, STAR came roaring back to life at the WRAT Safari Splash last Saturday!!! The “Safari” was a high point trophy meet, awarding trophies for each age based on points accumulated during the meet. With STARs hunting for best times at the Safari, they bagged a nearly 50% improvement rate, with 28 best times at the meet and 5 new team records, along with 7 event first place ribbons. STARs also captured 12 of the Safari’s high point trophies.
Two of those trophies were earned by STAR’s youngest (both 7 yrs old) and newest swimmers, Jake Brevard (8th) and Chase Millam (11th). Sophie Pitney, 8 yrs old, and Athena, 14, were in the top 6, each of them taking a 4th place trophy, while Gabe Szerlong captured the 1st place trophy for 14 year olds, by winning all of his events. His successful trophy hunt made him the high point winner for STAR at the meet. Diana Lemon (9 yrs, 10th), Ally Smith (10 yrs, 7th), Benjamin Schleppenbach (10 yrs, 9th), Connor Sawyers (10 yrs, 11th), Heather Brevard (11yrs, 8th), Robin Gee (13yrs, 7th) and Cassie Dewey (13yrs, 10th) were STAR’s other trophy winners.
1st place event winners for the Safari STARs were Athena (13yrs 100 breast), Sophie (8under 100IM), Ally (10yr 100 free) and Gabe (14 yr 200IM, 100 free, 100 breast, 500 free). Second place ribbons were earned by Sophie (8 under 25 fly), Connor Sawyers (10yrs 50 breast), Ben (10 yrs 200 IM, 50 free, 50 back), Ally (10 yr 100 fly), and Cassie (13yr 200 IM). STARs racing to 3rd place finishes were Sophie (8under 50 free), Jake (7yr 25 back), Connor (10yr 100 free, 50 back), Ben (10 yr 100 back) and Ally (10 yr 100 back). Several other STAR swimmers placed in the top eight in individual events, including Victoria Bergman, Robin Gee, Telisha Hoye, Katherine Rude, and Raleigh Schigur,
STAR had a triple tie for most improved times, with Mary Fitzsimmons (11yrs), Sophie and Athena all improving 3 times during the meet. Emily Grafton (11yrs) flew to the biggest time drop, slashing 24.49 seconds off her 100 free time. New TRs continued to fall during the Safari, with five new ones set by Ben (9-10 200IM) Heather (11-12 200IM and 100 fly), Katherine (11-12 100 back), and Gabe (13-14 200 IM). STAR team members will continue their summer hunt for improved times and state cuts with their first 50 meter meet of the season this Saturday, June 23. Several STARs will travel to Brown Deer to compete at the Shorewood 50 meter Open meet at Schroeder YMCA. The following weekend they will travel to Sterling, Il, Coach Colleen’s hometown, for the Stingray July Explosion, also held in a 50 meter pool. It will be their first experience facing Illinois competition, and with a great start to the season already, they are bound to fair well against the Illinoisians.