CAC Classic highlights
Riptides Perform at CAC Classic
In the first full-team meet of the new season, the Myrtle Beach Riptides’ swimmers did an outstanding job. Nearly 40 swimmers from the Myrtle Beach-based swim team competed, many for the first-time ever. Among the highlights include 6 new team records, 4 Age-group Sectional Championship qualifying times and nearly 30 South Carolina Swimming State Championship qualifying standards.
Chad Bateson earned five State Championship times in the 400 IM (Age-group Sectional time, team record), 500 free, 100 backstroke (team record), 200 IM and 200 freestyle.
Eddie Bateson swam to seven State Championship times in the 400 IM (Age-group Sectional time), 500 free (Age-group Sectional time), 200 butterfly (team record), 200 IM (Age-group Sectional time, team record), 100 breaststroke, 200 freestyle and 50 freestyle (team record).
Julia Campbell earned State Championship times in the 400 IM, 200 backstroke and 200 butterfly.
Danielle Flaherty swam to four State Championship times in the 400 IM, 200 backstroke, 100 butterfly and 200 breaststroke.
Ethan Nechemia picked up three State Championship times in the 100 backstroke, 50 backstroke and 100 breaststroke.
Yiannia Paraschos tied for State Championship times with seven in the 100 backstroke, 50 freestyle, 50 breaststroke (team record), 100 freestyle, 100 breaststroke, 50 backstroke and 200 freestyle.
Several swimmers saw tremendous improvements in their events. Taylor Koppel led all swimmers dropping more than a minute and a half in the 500 free, 30 seconds in the 200 IM, 26 seconds in the 200 free and 21 seconds in the 100 breaststroke. Lexi Roberts had a huge improvement in the 500 free, slashing over 50 seconds. Connor Campbell took 29 seconds off of his 200 freestyle. Connor Churchill improved his 500 freestyle by over 30 seconds. Chandler Elmore improved his 100 freestyle by 24 seconds. Megan Koppel had huge improvements in her 100 backstroke by more than 20 seconds and her 200 freestyle, also by more than 20 seconds. Kylie McWhorter improved her 200 freestyle by more than 20 seconds. Peyton McWhorter swam to personal best in the 500 freestyle by over 30 seconds. Cobi Williams erased 23 seconds from his 400 IM.
Many Riptides swam to personal best times in one or more events including Mackenzie Angwin, Andi Churchill, Jake Flaherty, Kailey Habib, Sophia Lusardi, Sophia McKanna, Meilani Nelson andMackenzie Squires.
Several Riptides swam for the first time in USA-Swimming competition. Those swimmers were Rafael Adi, Jaden-Grace Anderson, Dayton Busse, Logan Elmore, Jordan Faircloth, Matthew Key, Ty Kinner-Costello, Richie Lusardi, Olivia Lyons, Hannah McDonough, Jacob Sessions andChloe Stampfle.
Head coach James Smith said, “The coaching staff is very happy with how the swimmers performed. There were so many amazing performances by the swimmers… best times, championship standards and first-time swims. The swimmers and parents did a great job of cheering on teammates. It was a fun meet.”
“Age-group coach Mary Churchill is doing an excellent job of preparing our younger swimmers, both in technical and aerobic development, while keeping practices fun,” continued Smith.
