Carib Swim Team Brings Home Heavy Metal from Curacao

In the first full team travel meet since the COVID Pandemic began, Carib Swim Team brought home 42 medals, and many other top eight finishes.

Thirteen swimmers from CST traveled to Curacao for the Siegfried Francisco Invitational Swim Meet from December 3 - 5, to compete against teams from Aruba, Bonaire, Panama, and of course Curacao. It was the first long course (50 Meter pool) meet for many of the swimmers, but they stepped up with aplomb.

In total, 11 of the 13 swimmers came home with 9 gold medals, 21 silver medals, and 12 bronze medals.

Matias Piazza (13) led the way with four golds and four silvers. Joey Schvartz (11) earned two golds and four silvers. Adaya Bourne (13) brought home two gold medals and three bronze medals. Darina Smirnova (8) won a gold medal, along with three silver medals, followed by Aiyana Bourne (10) who earned three silver medals and three bronze medals. Arianna Lont (14) took home three silver medals. Denecia Prince (12) collected two silver medals along with two bronze medals. Nicolas Piazza (11) attained two silvers and a bronze. Gigi Cai (11) walked away with two bronze medals. Finally, Kjeld Van Der Meer (9) and Louise Creusot (12) each took home a bronze medal. The 11/12 years mixed Medley Relay of Denecia, Joey, Louise, and Nicolas also earned a bronze medal.

The final two members of the CST troop, Nihal Chugani (12) and Simon Creusot (9) had top eight finishes.

The squad also achieved quite a few new time standards as well. New ‘B’ times were made by Simon Creusot (100 free) and Kjeld Van Der Meer (200 free).

New ‘BB’ times were earned by Adaya Bourne (100 breast), Aiyana Bourne (100 back), Gigi Cai (200 free and 100 fly), Denecia Prince (400 free and 200 breast), Darina Smirnova (50 free, 100 free and 50 breast), Nico Piazza (200 free, 400 free and 200 IM) and Kjeld Van Der Meer (100 back, 100 breast and 100 fly).

New ‘A’ times were achieved by Gigi Cai (100 breast), Matias Piazza (200 IM), and Nico Piazza (50 breast and 100 breast).

New ‘AA’ times were made by Aiyana Bourne (50 breast), Matias Piazza (400 free and 1500 free), and Joey Schvartz (200 breast and 50 fly).

Finally, Joey achieved his first ‘AAA’ time in his current age group in the 800 free!

It was a rushed three days, but the young swimmers handled it magnificently, and learned a lot. Congratulations CST travel team!

Carib Swim Team’s next competition will be this coming weekend at home (Carib Swim Team pool in Cole Bay), on Sunday December 12^th.