Family YMCA Water Rats Travel Far and Swim Fast This Summer

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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 on the state, regional and national level and setting new team records along the way.

At the recent CT Senior Long Course Championships, 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 relay team of John Whiteside, North Woods, Bryce Keblish and Jake Hoin came in first in the 400M Medley Relay. The relay team of Keblish, Whiteside, Woods and Blansfield were victorious in the 800M Free Relay as well.

The fast swimming continued at the Age Group Long Course Championships, July 23-26. Representing the Water Rat team at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Ct., 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 Junior Nationals in San Antonio, Texas. 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 by going to usaswimming.org.

And on Aug. 5, John McNab, Dashiell Hunter, Katie Killian and Riley Twiss will be representing the team at the Eastern Zone AG Long Course Championships in Richmond, Va. Eastern Zones runs from Aug. 5-8. Results of that meet will be posted on the Eastern Zone web site.

Congratulations to all Water Rat swimmers for a great Long Course season!