CPAC Swimmers Honored at the CT Swimming Banquet

Around 30 CPAC swimmers, coaches, and family members made the trek to the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville, CT yesterday for the 2021-2022 CT Swimming Banquet.  Dozens, if not hundreds of CPAC Swimmers were recognized for their athletic and academic accomplishments. 

Some highlights include:

Owen Tharrington was the SCY 13-14 Age Group Champion High Point Award winner.  

The 13-14 Boys were the SCY Age Group High Point Team Champions.  

Lucas Hodgson, Annam Olasewere, Owen Tharrington, Miller Ward, and the 13-14 boys 800FR relay of Hudson Jang, Chase Elliott, Alexander Sharpe, and Owen Tharrington were all honored as CT Record breakers from the past season.  

The highlight of the night and one of the highlights of our season was the announcement that Annam Olasewere was the CT Female Swimmer of the Year.  She was celebrated by her teammates, coaches, Olympian Elizabeth Beisel, and 1300 members of the CT Swimming community.  

Congratulations to all recognized.  Go CPAC.

Aaron

My introduction is below; it does not do her justice:

For those of you who don’t know Annam, let me briefly introduce you to her.  Annam is one of the most well-rounded and grounded athletes I have had the pleasure of coaching.  Her love of swimming is matched by her love of reading and her love of music (believe it or not, she plays the stand-up bass in a jazz ensemble), and whether at practice or at a meet, she always has her nose in a book.

She is an incredibly supportive teammate, and at swim meets she can be found enjoying snacks with her friends in the bleachers or standing on the side of the pool cheering for her teammates.  Additionally, she is one of the most resilient and coachable athletes I have had the pleasure of coaching. Regardless of who is on the side of the pool running a practice, Annam is focused, engaged, and ready to train day in and day out.   

I think we knew she was going to have a great year after SCY Sectionals in Ithaca, NY when SwimSwam mentioned her accomplishment of 22.37 in the 50SCY FR in the same article as swimmers like Lia Neal, Torri Huske, Missy Franklin, Dara Torres, Kate Douglas, and Gretchen Walsh.  What an amazing list of swimmers…

That pressure didn’t faze Annam, and she headed into long course season ready to train hard and compete.  Her summer was highlighted by an NCSA Championship record-breaking performance: tying Torrie Huske’s LCM 50FR record during trials and then breaking that record in finals with a time of 25.44.  That swim put her 6^th in the country for 18&U swimmers.  It was her first Olympic Trial cut, and it earned her a second trip to the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs as a member of the National Select Camp.  At the OTC, it was no surprise that her coaches from USA Swimming and trainers from Team USA all saw her through a similar lens as her coaches from home: an incredibly well-rounded and grounded young woman who supported her teammates by leading by example in groups and being the first to volunteer to try something new in the pool or gym. 

It is so much fun to share the deck with her, and it is great to be on this amazing ride with her. I can't wait to see where she ends up over the next seven years.  

Congratulations to CT Female Swimmer of the Year, Annam Olasewere.