Riptides in Daytona Beach
Myrtle Beach Swimmers Travel to Daytona Beach
Six swimmers from the locally based Myrtle Beach Riptides swimming team traveled to Daytona Beach, FL for a training trip and swimming meet June 17-21, 2009. The training trip afforded the members of the Riptides an opportunity to train long-course meters (Olympic-sized pool) with members of the Daytona Beach Speed swim team and head coach Steve Lochte, father of two-time Olympic gold medalist and world-record holder Ryan Lochte.
The Riptides put on a spectacular display of racing during the swimming meet, earning forty-one top-10 finishes, including 15 first-places, 6 second-places and 9 third-places.
Megan Kinglsey (13-14) and Hunter Lineback (Senior) each brought home 6 wins for the Riptides. Keenan Lineback (Senior) finished in the top spot three times.
Julia Campbell (13-14) earned six top-10’s for the Riptides. Lauren Campbell (Senior) and Phil Mustert (Senior) each went 7-for-7 in top-10 finishes.
Said Riptides’ head coach James Smith, “The opportunity to train with one of the finest coaches in the United States was a great one for our swimmers. I was very happy and proud that our swimmers were able to race as well as they did considering the amount of training they have done.”
Said Riptides’ head coach James Smith, “The opportunity to train with one of the finest coaches in the United States was a great one for our swimmers. I was very happy and proud that our swimmers were able to race as well as they did considering the amount of training they have done.”
Continued Smith, “The swimmers are currently in the most strenuous time of our summer training. During this period of training, the swimmers will participate in 10 practices per week – eight in the pool and two strength conditioning workouts, nearly 30 hours.”
Next for the Myrtle Beach Riptides is the City of Charleston Summer Invitational July 11-12. This meet will serve as a final tune-up for the 2009 SC Swimming Summer State Championships July 23-26, where several Riptides’ swimmers hope to qualify as a member of the 2009 SC Swimming Southern Zone Championship team.
Myrtle Beach Riptides Makes Splash at City Summer League Meet
The City of Myrtle Beach hosted its first meet of the 2009 Summer League and the Riptides made a huge splash at the competition. Sixteen members of the Riptides participated in the first event of the season, which lasts through the months of June and July.
The veteran members of the Riptides led the team and put on a great display of fast swimming. Chad Bateson (11-12), Eddie Bateson (11-12), Andi Churchill (9-10), Connor Churchill (8/Under) and Danielle Flaherty (9-10) combined for 8 event wins in their respective age-groups. In fact, the Bateson brothers went 1-2, sweeping all of the 11-12 events.
The Riptides earned a total of 29 top-6 finishes at the meet with terrific performances contributed by Mackenzie Angwin (9-10), Zary Gouin (8/Under) and Jack King (9-10).
Several new Riptides competed for their very first time at the meet: James Angwin (8/Under), Ashlyn Dekleva (8/Under), Dylan Duncan (8/Under), Breah Harris (9-10), Mercedes Henry (11-12), Avery O’Connell (9-10) and Daisy Rutherford (8/Under). Sean King (8/Under) completed the contingent of Riptides’ swimmers.
Said age-group coach Justin Schreer, “The Summer League series is perfect for our novice and intermediate swimmers; it provides the opportunity to compete locally, within their competitive range. We look forward to these future stars having a big impact on our team.”
