Riptides host successful State Championships

MB Riptides host 2010 SC Swimming State Championships

For the second straight year, the Myrtle Beach Riptides swim team co-hosted the SC Swimming Long-course State Championships.  This year’s edition of the event, competed in Augusta, GA, also featured an embedded event, the Summer Finale Championship.

 

Nearly 600 swimmers participated at the meet, with nearly 1000 additional participants in coaches, officials, volunteers and family members in attendance for the 3 ½ day event.  Despite sweltering heat, the meet ran flawlessly, according to Riptides’ head coach James Smith.

 

“When hosting an event of the magnitude of the State Championships, the task can be daunting.  But add the fact that the host site is more than 3 hours from home, it just compounds any potential problems.  However, the Riptides and our co-hosts, Hilton Head Aquatics, pulled off an amazing event for the swimmers,” said Smith.

 

For the Riptides, their girls’ and boys’ teams combined for an overall finish of 7th place, finishing higher and scoring over 100 points more than any other Grand Strand swim team.

 

“Our swimmers did an outstanding job,” commented Smith.  “The Senior girls were primarily focusing on specific events in order to qualify to USA-Swimming Summer Junior Nationals, so they were not swimming a full load of events.  However, our younger swimmers really stepped up to score big points, earn best times, and have great meet.”

 

Chad Bateson, 11-12, broke 8 team records on his way to ten Top-8 scoring swims.  C. Bateson broke records in the 200-, 400- and 1500-freestyles; 50-, 100- and 200-breaststroke events; 200- and 400-Individual Medley (IM) events.

 

Eddie Bateson, 11-12, broke two team records and placed in the Top-8 in five events.  E. Bateson broke the 200-backstroke and 800-freestyle records.

 

“The Bateson boys ended their 11-12 swimming career on a very high note,” remarked Smith.  “The boys had amazing drops in time, including more than a minute each in the 1500-freestyle.  Once they put on a little muscle, they should do very well in the 13-14 age-group.”

 

Julia Campbell, 13-14, was right on her best times the entire meet, but really shown through in the 200-butterfly earning a best time and returning for Finals.

“Julia had an amazing 200-fly.  She really pushed through the event and went under 2:40 for first time.  It was a great swim,” said Smith.

 

Lauren Campbell, Senior, competed in her second meet in as many weeks.  Yet, L. Campbell was able to break the team record in the 200-freestyle and earn six Top-8 finishes and four best times.

 

“Lauren’s 200-free was unreal.  She was in 5th place after the final turn and to everyone’s surprise, she caught the field and squeaked out a 2nd place… it was some kind of swim,” remarked Smith.

 

Danielle Flaherty, 10-Under, set 6 team records and earned 6 personal best times in the 400-freestyle; 50- and 100-backstrokes; 50-breaststroke; 100-butterfly and 200-IM.

 

Said age-group coach Brittany Todd, “Danielle had a very good meet.  She continues to refine her technique and her endurance continues to improve.  We hope for very good things from Danielle in the future.”

 

Megan Kingsley, 13-14, went a perfect 8-for-8 in event wins, earning the 13-14 highpoint award.  Kingsley also set 8 team records in the 100-, 200-, 400- and 800-freestyles; 100- and 200-breaststroke events; 100-backstroke and 200-IM.

 

“Like Lauren [Campbell], this was Megan’s second meet in two weeks.  At the Senior Sectional Championships, she qualified to the USA-Swimming Summer Junior Nationals in the 200-butterfly and 400-IM.  At State, she added another q-time in the 200-IM,” said Smith. 

Keenan Lineback, Senior, earned five personal best times, two event wins and one team record.  For Lineback, her winning time of 4:59.3 in the 400-IM qualifies her to the USA-Swimming Summer Junior Nationals.

 

“Making the USA-S Junior Nationals was huge for Keenan.  This year has been tough for her and dropping nearly 4 seconds to make Junior Nats was extremely pleasing,” commented Smith.

 

Kingsley and Lineback will continue to train for the 2010 USA-Swimming Summer Junior National Championships in Irvine, CA.  Both girls are the first to ever qualify to this event from the Grand Strand, and join Hunter Lineback (2007) as the only swimmers in the history of Grand Strand swimming to ever qualify to the meet.

 

Embedded in the SC Swimming State Championships was the Summer Finale.  Six swimmers from the Riptides competed in this event.

 

Mackenzie Angwin, 11-12, earned five personal best times in the 50-, 100- and 200-freestyles; 50-backstroke; 50-butterfly; and 200-IM.

 

Andi Churchill, 11-12, earned six personal best time in the 50-, 100- and 200-freestyles; 50- and 100-backstroke events; and 200-IM.

 

Connor Churchill, 10/Under, swam to six personal best times in the 50-, 100- and 200-freestyles;  50-butterfly; 50-breaststroke; and 200-IM.

 

Ashlynn Dekleva, 10/Under, earned three personal best times in the 50-backstroke; 100-breaststroke and 200-IM.

 

Zary Gouin, 10/Under swam three events, right on his best times.

 

Emily Sabella, 11-12, finished her meet with eight personal best times and her very first SC Swimming State Championship q-time in the 50-freestyle.

 

Coach Brittany Todd said, “I was very happy with the way the kids did in the Finale.  So many best times, team records and a new State Championship q-time was a perfect way to end the long-course season.”

 

As the Riptides’ 2009-10 season comes to it’s conclusion, the majority of the swimmers and parents will enjoy some time off.  For Kingsley and Lineback, they face one more hurdle in Irvine, CA before they get a short break.

 

The Riptides continues to set the standard for competitive swimming along the Grand Strand.  Although the Riptides is not the largest program, it is without a doubt the most concentrated group of talent in the State.

 

For more information about the Myrtle Beach Riptides, call (843) 222-7105 or visit www.TeamRiptides.com.  The Riptides will host a FREE swim clinic August 16-19, from 5:00-6:00pm at the Pepper Geddings Recreation Center located in Myrtle Beach.  Interested parents should call to reserve a spot in the clinic for their child.