Riptides' Lowstate Qualifier - new swimmers, more events for State!

MB Riptides host Lowstate Qualifier; prepare for championship swim meets

The Myrtle Beach Riptides swimming team hosted the 2010 Lowstate Qualifier meet January 29-31 at the “Pepper” Geddings Recreation Center.  The event brought over 130 swimmers to the area for the weekend event, their final opportunity to qualify to the championship event.  From the meet, the Riptides’ finalized their 2010 SC Swimming State Championship team, adding one more swimmer and several individual events for others already qualified.

The Riptides had 17 swimmers compete in the meet who combined for 11 new team records, 73 personal best times and 11 new SCS State Championship qualifying times.  Competing for the Riptides were Mackenzie Angwin, Chad Bateson, Eddie Bateson, Garrett Beauprez, Andi Churchill, Connor Churchill, Ashlyn Dekleva, Ryan Eldred, Shannon Eldred, Tyler Eldred, Danielle Flaherty, Zary Gouin, Jack King, Sean King, Rachel Krivanek, Chloe Ladd, Emily Sabella and Jeremiah Sharp.

Said age-group coach Justin Schreer, “It was an exciting meet for all of our swimmers.  We had swimmers earning new best times and new SCS State qualifying times.  Ryan Eldred (7 years), just missed making the State meet in the 50-backstroke by 0.03 seconds.  He would have been the youngest swimmer from the Grand Strand to ever qualify to the meet.”

Schreer also stated that several swimmers had improvements of 10- and 20-seconds or more.  Emily Sabella led the Riptides with a 28-second improvement in the 100-IM.  Chad Bateson, Eddie Bateson and Tyler Eldred were all perfect for best time swims.

The Myrtle Beach Riptides 2010 SC Swimming State Championship is:

Mackenzie Angwin (10/Under) in the 500 free.

Chad Bateson (11-12) in the 50-, 100-, 200-, 500-, 1000- and 1650-freestyles, 50-, 100-, 200-backstroke and breaststroke events, and 100-, 200-, 400-Individual Medley events.

Eddie Bateson (11-12) in the 50-, 100-, 200-, 500-, 1000-, and 1650-freestyle events, 50-, 100-, 200-backstroke and breaststroke events, 100- and 200-butterfly events, and 100-, 200-, 400-IM events.

Garrett Beauprez (11-12) in the 1000-freestyle, 50- and 200-breaststroke events, 100-butterfly and 400-IM.

Julia Campbell (13-14) in the 500-, 1000-, 1650-freestyle events, 200-backstroke, 100- and 200- breaststroke and butterfly events, and 200- and 400-IM events.

Lauren Campbell (Senior) in the 50-, 100-, 200-, 500-, 1000-, 1650-fresstyle events, 100- and 200-backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly events, 200- and 400-IM events.

Danielle Flaherty (10/Under) in the 50- and 100-backstroke and breaststroke events and 50-butterfly.

Megan Kingsley (13-14) in the 50-, 100-, 200-, 500-, 1000-, 1650-freestyle events, 100- and 200-backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly events, 200- and 400-IM events.

Keenan Lineback (Senior) in the 50-, 100-, 200-, 500-, 1000-, 1650-freestyle events, 100- and 200-backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly events, 200- and 400-IM events.

J. Campbell, L. Campbell, Kingsley and Lineback will also compete in the 800-freestyle relay.

For Angwin and Flaherty, this is their first time qualifying to the SC Swimming State Championship.

Head coach of the Riptides, James Smith, said this year’s squad is very different from the 2009 squad.

“This year’s team is much younger than last year’s.  We did not have any 10/Under aged swimmers at the meet so for Angwin and Flaherty to qualify is a big step. 

“We also had older boys at the meet, including one senior boy who graduated and is now at Emory University competing,” continued Smith.

“However, our squad has qualified in more events compared to last year.  This particularly has come from the Bateson twins who have had a breakthrough season and Beauprez who joined our program in September and did not have any qualifying times when he joined,” Smith said.

The core group of swimmers, J. Campbell, L. Campbell, Kingsley and Lineback, are still expected to carry the team with regard to scoring, but all of the swimmers are in a position to score points.

“We are hoping for great swims from our younger swimmers.  Chad and Eddie Bateson are in a very good position to contribute a large number of points,” Smith said.

Due to age grouping, the Riptides will only be able to field one relay for the entire meet, the girls’ 800-freestyle.

“Last year, we had 8 swimmers – 4 girls, 4 boys – and the girl’s team placed 3^rd overall.  We had tremendous swims and were able to beat out teams whose overall rosters are 5 and 6 times as big as our entire team,” commented Smith.  “It would be nice to finish in the top 5, but it’s tough when other teams can put up relays, which score twice as much as individual events,” Smith continued.

For some members of the Riptides’ State Team, this upcoming championship will serve as a culmination of a year’s worth of hard work and dedication to their sport; for others, it will serve as a last chance to qualify to even higher level championship meets or as a final tune-up for such event.

There are three major championship events following the SCS State meet: Eastern Section Southern Zone Senior Sectional Championships, Age-group Sectional Championships and National Club Swimming Junior Nationals.  The MB Riptides is the only team which has, year and year out, qualified local swimmers to these major age-group championship meets.

Smith said that although Riptides’ swimmers are qualified to the Senior Sectional Championships, the first of many national-level meets, the team would not go since it does not fit in the competitive schedule.  Those swimmers will continue training for competition at the NCSA Junior Nationals.

The Riptides currently have three swimmers qualified for the Age-group Sectional Championships, with a fourth very close.  The Age-group Sectional Championship consists of the fastest 600 swimmers, 14/Under, from the southeast corner of the US.

“We will attend this event since it is the highest level of competition for our 14/Under aged swimmers,” Said Smith.

The final championship event of the season is the National Club Swimming Junior National Championship.  The Riptides currently have 3 swimmers qualified to participate and will make the trip to Orlando, FL for the event.  The NCSA Junior National Championship is representative of the top 2% of swimmers aged 18/Under. 

“The Junior Nationals was a huge meet last year, 1600 swimmers.  It was also very fast, particularly due to the ‘hi-tech’ swim suits which are now banned.  Since the ‘seal’ suits are gone, our girls now are on a level playing field with the rest of the swimmers,” Smith remarked.

According to Smith, major suit companies did not make a swim suit to fit the Riptides’ swimmers.

“It was tough to go to a meet where 99% of the swimmers are competing in those suits and our girls are not.  Our girls achieved their times without the aid of the hi-tech suits, which makes their times even more impressive.  A lot of swimmers, and coaches, are realizing that there isn’t a magic pill and if the work isn’t being done, the results won’t come,” Smith said.

Smith is confident this year the Riptides can have swimmers competing in Finals at Junior Nationals.