NJ YMCA 8 and Under State Championship Results
Dear Team,
This past Saturday, 28 Dolphins aged 6 through 8 from the Mini Dolphins, Flippers, and Novice 2 groups competed at the NJ YMCA 8 and Under Championships at the Jersey Aquatic Center. This meet included the top competitors from all (or nearly all) of the YMCA teams in the state, or 23 in total.
I’m delighted to report that our YMCA of Montclair Combined Boys and Girls team had a remarkable finish, placing 7th out of those 23 teams!
This was truly a whole team effort and a fun, fun day indeed. Our Dolphins showed strength and determination with nearly all of them competing in 3 individual events and at least one relay! Their events had short turnarounds too!
We had some standout relay and individual performances, I might add! Our Boys 7 and Under 100 Freestyle Relay of Oliver Hamburg, Joseph Lambert, Aariv Bhatt, Francis Burgess came in First place! Also, Sophia Landrove placed First in the 50 yard Freestyle for the 7 and Under Age group.
Other 10 place finishers at the Girls and Boys meets (bear in mind many of these events had 60-90+ swimmers from all over NJ!) are as follows:
Oliver Hamburg*, Beatrice Hooper, Clare Laracy*, Joseph Lambert
Top 20 place finishers: Aariv Bhatt, Simon Firth, and Aiden Stopp
I truly hope that all of our youngest athletes and their families feel proud of their accomplishments this season. When I think back to many of these swimmers’ first tryouts in July and then their first time trial in September, I’m struck by their growth in many ways, not only their swimming, but their demonstration of the Y’s values.
I’ve attached an improvement report for all to see their growth from September through this past Saturday’s meet.
Awards will be given to those swimmers placing 1-6 with asterisks next week.
Finally, I have one red team T-shirt that was left on the bleachers from the Boys meet. Write to me if it’s yours.
Go Dolphins!
Coach Kyle
