2009 SCS Long-course State Champs
MB Riptides Successful at State Championships
The 2009 SC Swimming Long-course State Championships was held the weekend of July 23-26 at the Augusta Aquatics Center, Augusta, GA. The Myrtle Beach Riptides swimming team not only participated in the event, but co-hosted the meet as well.
Thirteen members of the Riptides competed in the event. At meet’s end, the girls had placed 5th, the boys had placed 13th and the team finished 9th overall.
The Riptides earned a total of 12 event wins, 25 additional top-8 finishes, two highpoint award winners and four swimmers selected to compete at the 2009 Southern Zone Championships. Riptides’ Keenan Lineback and Phil Mustert also combined for 5 USA-Swimming short-course Junior National Championship qualifying times.
Mackenzie Angwin (10/Under) earned 6 personal best times. Chad Bateson (11-12) earned 7 personal best times, including a 20 second improvement in the 400-IM. Eddie Bateson (11-12) also earned 7 personal best times.
Julia Campbell (13-14) earned a 7th place finish and best time in the 200-breaststroke.
Lauren Campbell (Senior)earned ten top-8 finishes in the 200-, 400-, 800- and 1500-freestyle events; 100- and 200-backstrokes; 100- and 200-butterflies; and 200- and 400-Individual Medleys. L. Campbell finished 3rd in highpoint scoring.
Julia Campbell (13-14) earned a 7th place finish and best time in the 200-breaststroke.
Lauren Campbell (Senior)earned ten top-8 finishes in the 200-, 400-, 800- and 1500-freestyle events; 100- and 200-backstrokes; 100- and 200-butterflies; and 200- and 400-Individual Medleys. L. Campbell finished 3rd in highpoint scoring.
Andi Churchill (10/Under) earned two personal best times. Danielle Flaherty (10/Under) earned 6 personal best times. Zary Gouin (10/Under) competed in his first long-course meet ever and did very well. Jack King (10/Under) earned 4 personal best times and a 30 second improvement in the 50-backstroke.
Megan Kingsley (13-14) led the Riptides in event wins, picking up six. Kingsley won the 200 free, 100- and 200-butterflies, 200- and 400-Individual Medleys, and 100-back. Kingsley also placed in the 100-breaststroke, 200-backstroke, 400- and 800-freestyle events. Kingsley won the 13-14 highpoint award.
Keenan Lineback (Senior) added four event wins in the 400-, 800- and 1500-freestyle events and the 400-Individual Medley. Lineback finished in the top-8 in the 100- and 200-butterflies; 100- and 200-backstrokes; and 200-freestyle. Lineback won the Senior highpoint award.
Keenan Lineback (Senior) added four event wins in the 400-, 800- and 1500-freestyle events and the 400-Individual Medley. Lineback finished in the top-8 in the 100- and 200-butterflies; 100- and 200-backstrokes; and 200-freestyle. Lineback won the Senior highpoint award.
Phil Mustert (Senior) had two event wins in the 400-freestyle and 400-IM. Mustert also earned four top-8’s in the 200-freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke and IM events. Mustert finished 3rd in highpoint scoring.
“We are very proud of how our swimmers did”, said head coach James Smith. “While many teams had post-age group swimmers [over age 18] competing in the meet, our scores came from our age-groupers.”
“We are very proud of how our swimmers did”, said head coach James Smith. “While many teams had post-age group swimmers [over age 18] competing in the meet, our scores came from our age-groupers.”
University of Tampa junior Hunter Lineback, who is a member of the Riptides, competed at the State Championships in the preliminary sessions only. Smith said that he and Lineback felt it was best for Lineback to compete in the preliminaries as he prepares to return to college.
“If Hunter had competed in the Finals, he would have definitely scored a great deal of points, but at this meet, competition is for the age-group swimmer. Older swimmers have meets more appropriate for their age”, replied Smith.
L. Campbell, Kingsley, K. Lineback and Mustert were also chosen to represent SC Swimming as members of the 2009 SC Swimming Southern Zone Championship team at the Southern Zone Championships July 28-August 1 in Orlando, FL.
In addition to competing at the 2009 SC Swimming Long-course State Championships, the MB Riptides co-hosted the event with Hilton Head Aquatics. According to head coach James Smith there were many firsts at this event.
“This was the first time the meet was hosted out of SC, the first time is was a co-hosted event and the first time a system of chase-starts was employed”, said Smith.
“We had 600 swimmers compete in the event and the logistics of putting this event together were awesome. We had to coordinate our [Riptides and Hilton Head Aquatics] efforts, speak with vendors and facility directors over the phone”, replied Smith.
“All of the members of the Riptides and Hilton Head Aquatics stepped up tremendously to make this meet perhaps the best run meet in SC Swimming history. We received many compliments from many people on how well this meet was hosted”, Smith said.
Smith continued, “One of the most daunting aspect of the meet was the chase starts.”
Chase starts means that swimmers will be sent off from each end of the pool. As one heat is completing its event, the next heat is immediately started, before the first heat finishes.
“The starting officials have to really pay attention to what is going on. They have to make sure the next heat of swimmers doesn’t catch the first heat of swimmers still in the water. Sometimes they do and it makes the meet even more exciting”, Smith remarked.
The MB Riptides look to hosting the event in the future, which brings in an estimated 1500 persons – swimmers, parents, officials, coaches – for the 3 ½ day event.
