A Spooky Weekend!
Spooky Invite, October 22-24, 2010, Mount Pleasant, SC
The Myrtle Beach Riptides swim team recently competed at the 5 th Annual Spooky Invite hosted by the Mount Pleasant Swim Club. The Spooky Invite is one of the only meets on the circuit where fastest times are overshadowed by how much candy a swimmer can win in the famous “mystery heats”.
Senior swimmers Megan Kingsley(14) and Keenan Lineback(18) competed very well over the three day meet. Megan won 10 events highlighted by the 400 and 200 Individual Medley and the 200 Breast. Keenan Lineback, in her final Spooky Invite, monopolized the long distance events by winning the 500, 1000, and 1650 Freestyle swims. Rounding off the senior swimmers, Julia Campbell swam a strong 1000 Freestyle while her sister Lauren swam a best time in the 100 Breast Stroke event.
For the boys, Chad and Eddie Bateson(13)had strong performances as well this weekend highlighted by personal best times in the 1000 free and 400 IM. Birthday boy, Cobi Williams swam well too with a personal best in the 500 free.
The Riptides strong Silver group competed well gathering many bags of candy and dropping times. Danielle Flaherty, Mackenzie Angwin, Ashlyn Deklava and Sahara Lord all had numerous person best times for the girls, while Sean King, Zary Gouin and Connor Churchill posted strong times in their events.
Coach Brittany Todd was impressed with the team and stated, "Everyone swam very well at the Spooky this year! We had tons of best times and many good races! "I was especially happy with our performance of team spirit and team support! On Sunday many of our Riptides, including myself, dressed as 80's Exercisers! It was so much fun!"
Saturday we received the sad news of the death of a fellow swimmer and member of the US Men’s Open Water National Team, Fran Crippen. To honor him on this sad day, Coach Brittany, swam the 500 hundred freestyle while Riptides members cheered loud and proud! "It was a wonderful moment for our team and I am sure Fran felt the love and support from his swimming community," Coach Brittany said.
The real measure of success at a Spooky Swim Meet, you need to ask Riptides’ youngest competitors, Jake Flaherty and Henry King who replied, “We did great, we got two bags of candy!” Anyone know a good dentist?
