SUSSEX COUNTY SWORDFISH SWIM TEAM

    New Jersey Swimming
    Level 2

    Recap of "Long Island Holiday Invitational"

    Lotta Wahl-Kattner
    Parents,
     
    We had 34 swimmers compete at the Long Island Holiday Invitational the weekend of December 12-14th, and it was a very successful meet for our team. Across the weekend, our swimmers achieved 121 personal best times in 211 splashes, a pretty impressive feat to say the least!
     
    We had two swimmers earn YMCA National cuts in individual events. Junior Owen Englehardt (16) will be attending his first YMCA National Meet after qualifying in three individual events: 100 Backstroke, 50 Freestyle, and 100 Freestyle.
    Junior Danny Westervelt (17) qualified in four individual events—50 Freestyle, 100 Backstroke, 100 Butterfly, and 100 Freestyle and will be attending his third YMCA National Meet.
    Danny and Owen also teamed up on two relays that not only achieved YMCA National cuts but set new team records in the process, joined by their teammates:
    • 200 Medley Relay – Danny Westervelt, Owen Englehardt, Espen Wespestad, and Jack McGurrin
      New Team Record: 1:38.05
    • 200 Freestyle Relay – Danny Westervelt, Owen Englehardt, Jack McGurrin, and Grayson Petrie
      New Team Record: 1:29.31
     
    USA Zone Meet Qualifier:
    • Jake Watkins (14) – 100 Breaststroke, 200 Breaststroke
     
    In total, seven team records were broken:
    • Danny Westervelt (17)  (15–18 age group)
      • 100 Backstroke – 51.84
      • 200 Butterfly – 1:59.44
      • 100 Butterfly – 50.86
    • Owen Englehardt (16)  (15–18 age group)
      • 500 Freestyle – 4:49.04
    • Espen Wespestad (15)  (15-18 age group)
      • 200 Breaststroke – 2:16.60 
      •  
    •      The two Relays mentioned above
     
    YMCA State Cuts Achieved:
    • Barbara Hackett (12) – 200 IM, 100 Free, 50 Fly, 100 IM
    • Joey Biehler (11) – 200 IM, 400 IM, 100 Fly
    • Jake Watkins (14)– 400 IM
    • Josh Watkins (12)  – 200 Free, 100 Free, 200 IM, 100 Fly
    • Penelope Biehler (14)  – 500 Free
    • Owen Englehardt (16) – 500 Free, 200 IM, 100 Fly
    • Anja Wespestad (12)– 50 Back, 100 IM
    • Erin Winkleman (14) – 200 Breast, 100 Breast
    • Jack McGurrin (17) – 100 Free, 200 Free
    • Danny Westervelt (17)– 200 Fly
     
    YMCA Silver Cuts Achieved:
    • Kaelyn Daggett (12) – 100 Back, 50 Back
    • Avery Brennan (14) – 200 Free
    • Erin Winkleman (14) – 200 Free
    • Jack McGurrin (17) – 100 Fly, 50 Free
    • Alexa Fleming (13)– 200 Breast
    • Grayson Petrie (17)– 200 Breast, 100 Free
    • Annie Winkleman (11)– 100 Breast
    • David Sabol (17)– 100 Free
    • Eric Van De Moere (18) – 100 Free, 200 IM, 200 Breast
     
    A special thank you to Joe and Danielle Biehler for organizing our hotel accommodations and coordinating restaurants for team luncheons. This is a huge undertaking, and we truly appreciate everything they did to help make this such a great weekend.
     
    Thank you as well to Coach Shane, Sarah, and Alexis for being on deck all weekend and doing a wonderful job supporting our swimmers.
     
    Please excuse me if I missed anyone, there were a lot of great performances to celebrate!
     
    Coach Ray