2013 "IM" for Breast Cancer Awareness Invite
2013 Myrtle Beach Riptides’ “IM” for Breast Cancer Awareness Invitational
The locally-based Myrtle Beach Riptides hosted their first home-meet of the season Oct 18-20 at the North Myrtle Beach Aquatic and Fitness Center. Five teams of nearly 200 hundred swimmers participated in the event, which was able to donate $1000.00 to the Susan G. Komen foundation.
Head coach/CEO of the Riptides, James Smith said, “Initially our donation to the Komen foundation was at $500, but the City of Charleston Southern Marlins Racing Team Booster Club added another $500 to the donation. It was great to have the ability to donate to such a worthy cause.”
The Riptides swim team has been in the news a lot lately, particularly with the announcement of the goal to build a new aquatic training and wellness center to be located on River Oaks Road in the Carolina Forest area. The new facility will include 2 pools – a 10-lane training and competition pool and a 4-lane instructional/therapy pool. Additionally, the facility will include balcony seating for as many as 500 persons with restrooms and concessions area, a weight room, a cardio room, an aerobics room, a classroom, pro-shop, office space and five dressing/changing rooms. The goal of Riptides, and its partners, is to be in the facility in late-2014 early-2015, financing and fund raising pending. Later plans may add an outdoor rubberized, running path and an outdoor 50-meter pool (Olympic length).
For the Riptides, the meet was a huge success in the water. One-hundred-thirty-five personal best times were achieved, 9 new SC Swimming State Championship standards attained and 5 new team records were set.
Lexi Roberts led Riptides with new records in the 10/Under 50 free, 500 free, 100 back and 100 IM. Walker Harwell set a new record in the 15-16 200 backstroke. Alyssa Cozart achieved her first-ever SC Swimming State Championship q-time in the 11-12 100 breaststroke.
Connor Churchill led Riptides with the single largest improvement with a 2:36.3 drop in the 1650-freestyle. Joining Churchill with massive drops in time were Rafael Adi (73 seconds in 500 free), Mackenzie Angwin (71 seconds in 1650-free), Dayton Busse (22 seconds in 100 breaststroke), Danielle Flaherty (23 seconds in 1650-free and 29 seconds in 200 butterfly), Kailey Habib (35 seconds in 100 butterfly, 31 seconds in 100 free and 24 seconds in 100 backstroke), Matthew Key (1:43 in 200 free and 72 seconds in 100 fly), Ty Kinner-Costello (24 seconds in 500 free), Peyton McWhorter (52 seconds in 500 free), Yianni Paraschos (20 seconds in 500 free) and Cobi Williams (1:37 in 1650-free).
Several more Riptides also achieved personal best times including Chad Bateson, Eddie Bateson, Keyon Berenji, Anaya Brown, Jordan Brown, Andi Churchill, Aubrey Cloutier, Riley Davis, Jake Flaherty, Josh Guerra-Devine, Taylor Koppel, Hannah McDonough, Kylie McWhorter, Fiona Mullaney, Ana Muntean, Ethan Nechemia, Ireland Rose, Ella Speir, Chloe Stampfle, Chase Teasley, Sammy Trezza, Mackenna Zeitz and Rui Zhang.
Swimming many events for the first time were Emma Gustafson, Kamea Herte and Maddi Pannell. Julia Campbell competed in nine events, all within the goal of 3% of her personal bests. Jacob Sessions was right on his best time in the 100 backstroke.
Smith said this was a great event for all competitors in the meet and for the Komen foundation.
“So far, 2013-14 has been an exciting year for Riptides. As a swim team, our athletes are swimming faster than expected for this time of the year. As an organization, the idea of a new facility to develop and grow youth- and adult-based programming is a dream come true.
“We can only see things continuing to improve with Riptides swimming and with the Grand Strand community. It is our goal to open a new facility for the benefit of the entire Grand Strand and, obviously, to elevate Riptides swimming to national prominence. Riptides has a rich history of success and achievements, and it is important to build upon that,” Smith continued
