Local athletes from the Westport Weston Family Y’s Water Rat Swim Team recently competed in two national-level events, held in Buffalo, New York, and in Richmond, Va.
The Eastern Zone Super Sectional Championships - also known as Sectionals - were contested at The University of Buffalo, Aug. 2-5. This meet hosted more than 900 swimmers from throughout the East Coast and Middle Atlantic region as well as Kentucky and Michigan.
The Sectionals are part of the Speedo Champions Series, a series of meets held through the United States offering swimmers age 12 and over the opportunity to race at a high-caliber meet. The Series is intended to be a stepping stone for swimmers looking to make the next step to the USA Junior National Championships or the Phillips 66 National Championships.
Three local swimmers represented the Westport Weston Family Y Water Rats at the Sectionals in Buffalo: Jonathan Blansfield, age 15; Bryce Keblish, 15; and Daniel Williams, 14. Their events and finishes are:
Jonathan Blansfield: 200 meter Freestyle: 24th
400 meter Freestyle: 5th
800 meter Freestyle: 10th
1500 meter Freestyle: 16th
Bryce Keblish: 50 meter Freestyle: 20th
100 meter Freestyle
100 meter Butterfly
200 meter Ind. Medley
Daniel Williams: 400 meter Freestyle
800 meter Freestyle
1500 meter Freestyle
400 meter Ind. Medley
A second high-level meet, the Eastern Zone Age Group Championships, was held Aug. 8-11 in Richmond, Va. This meet takes the top swimmers in each group as they compete within the Eastern Zone representing their local swimming community.
The Water Rats had four swimmers uphold a strong team tradition by representing Connecticut: Hannah Arman, age 13; Brianna Auray, 12; Olivia Utter, 10; and Edward Stolarski, 14. Each swimmer was an integral part to Team Connecticut's overall success. Their events and finishes are:
Hannah Arman: 50 Meter Freestyle
100 Meter Freestyle
Brianna Auray: 50 Meter Freestyle
100 Meter Freestyle
200 Meter Freestyle
50 Meter Breaststroke
50 Meter Butterfly
Olivia Utter: 50 Meter Freestyle
100 Meter Freestyle
50 Meter Backstroke
Edward Stolarski: 50 Meter Freestyle - 3rd Place
100 Meter Freestyle - 1st Place
100 Meter Backstroke - 2nd Place
200 Meter Backstroke - 3rd Place
100 Meter Butterfly - 9th Place
200 Meter Ind. Medley - 6th Place
“We’re tremendously proud of these swimmers and how their efforts have paid off in being able to compete against higher-level competition,” says Ellen Johnston, Head Coach.
Tryouts for the 2012-2013 Water Rat Swim Team will be held on Wednesday, September 5, 2012 and Thursday, September 6, 2012 at 4:00 pm. Swimmers are encouraged to attend both days if possible. To register your child in advance, please go to Water Rat section on www.westporty.org to download the 2012 Tryout Form. Tryouts cost $25. You also can register on the day at the door.
The coaches evaluate the children in a variety of ways. The kids will be timed in some of the swims. The coaches will instruct the kids to perform tasks and take note of how eager they are and how well they listen when given instructions. The children swim at least one length of each of the four competitive strokes (butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke and freestyle). If they do not know how to properly swim all four strokes, don’t worry. Many of our swimmers start on the team with a vague knowledge of the strokes, then learn as they go.
For more information about the Water Rats, contact Head Coach Ellen Johnston at 203-226-8981, ext. 110 or ejohnston@westporty.org.
