Making The Most Of Every Opportunity

In the two weeks leading up to the Thanksgiving Invite were presented with a challenge: making the most of every opportunity to get better, whether it be at practice or a meet. For the two weeks after a tough Captains vs. Lieutenants meet the group worked every opportunity that came their way and the results at the Thanksgiving Invite were simply staggering. The athletes as a whole swam their way to a season-high 231 best times, an 80% mark for the group. Among those swims were first time 100 flys, 200 frees, 200 IM’s and 500 frees. While the group was fast all around, the swimmers listed below earned swimmer of the meet honors this weekend: 

10 & Under:
Ellie Bud: Ellie swam five best times out of her six events and had drops of over five seconds in her 100 back (1:28.92) and 100 free (1:22.06). Ellie also went best times in the 50 back (41.27), 50 breast (53.24) and 50 free (38.11). While her 50 fly may not have been a best time, she finished the race legally and avoided any pushup penalty!!! 

Avery Lai: In what was a weekend filled with many firsts for Avery, she managed to swim six best times in her six events. Swimming both the 200 free and 200 IM for the first time, Avery had great swims in both going 2:56.90 in the 200 free and 3:11.43 in the 200 IM. Avery managed to pull off another best time in the 100 back despite a solid face-plant on her last turn and dropped four seconds (1:25.93). She also swam best times in the 100 free (1:19.07), 50 fly (44.39) and 50 free (36.47). 

Chris Brennan: Chris finished his weekend the proud owner of six new best times. His stellar swim in the 100 breast (1:40.49) was good enough for a fourth place finish in the event! Chris finally had a breakthrough in the 100 free, dropping 9 seconds from two weeks prior with a time of 1:26.77. Chris also swam best times in the 100 back (1:44.49), 50 breast (46.93), 50 fly (52.84) and 50 free (38.46). 

11-12:
Sydney Lei: Swimming in her morning/evening meet, Sydney finished her weekend with five best times. Swimming the 200 free for the first time, Sydney far surpassed any 200 free she put up at practice, finishing the race with a time of 2:50.16. After dropping a ton of time in her 50 free at the Captains vs. Lieutenants meet, Sydney went even faster this weekend (34.59). She also swam best times in the 100 fly (1:27.89), 100 back (1:21.96) and 100 breast (1:34.66). 

Sophie Kil: Sophie finished her weekend a perfect six for six! Her biggest drop of the weekend came in her 100 back, finishing with a time of 1:21.36. She followed that up with a fast 100 breast and new best time of 1:32.56. Sophie also finished with best times in the 200 free (2:45.03), 100 free (1:14.56), 50 back (37.61), 50 breast (42.86) and 50 fly (40.28). 

Tyler Ip: In what was one of the most surprisingly fast swims of the weekend, Tyler saved his best for last. Swimming the 100 free, Tyler dropped a huge six seconds, finishing with a time of 1:06.32. Tyler also swam best times in the 50 back (35.66), 50 free (31.00) and 100 fly (1:28.15). 

Mark Lou: Mark swam six best times across seven events this weekend. Swimming the 200 free for the first time, Mark tried his best to pace himself (Mark loves to charge out as fast as he can) and finished with a pretty respectable 2:40.54. Mark also swam best times in the 100 breast (1:33.07), 100 free (1:11.02), 50 fly (36.38), 50 back (37.55) and 50 free (31.15). 

Honorable Mentions

Josie Gans: Josie had a number of huge swims this weekend, but none was bigger than her 100 free. Fresh off a ten second drop two weeks before, Josie dropped another ten seconds, swimming a 1:20.20. Josie also had a huge drop in the 50 free (36.44), which was another event she swam two weeks prior. She also swam best times in the 200 free (3:06.21) and the 100 breast (1:49.01). 

Allison Hu: Allison had a great weekend, finishing with five best times. Her best swim of the weekend was her 100 breast, dropping six seconds in a time of 1:48.31. Her freestyle was on fire, as she went best times in the 50 (38.22), 100 (1:28.31) and 200 (3:06.77). 

Taylor Keiley: Fresh off eating her pull-buoy for breakfast, Taylor swam five best times. Taylor’s backstroke this weekend was stellar, as had huge drops in both the 50 (46.47) and 100 back (1:42.98). The Rockaway bus member also swam best times in the 100 breast (2:12.31), 100 free (1:41.34) and 50 free (46.75). 

Georgia Wu: Georgia had a stellar weekend, finishing with five best times across her six events! She had solid drops in her 100 back (1:45.07), 100 free (1:32.15), 50 back (47.67), 50 fly (49.91) and 50 free (40.58). 

Chris Leigh: Chris continued his torrid start to the season, finishing his weekend with seven best times. His most impressive swim came in his 100 breast, where he dropped over three seconds, finishing the event with a time of 1:28.86. He also dropped over 12 seconds in his 100 fly, finishing in 1:23.09. Chris also swam best times in the 50 free (30.54), 50 fly (36.19), 50 breast (40.70), 50 back (35.73) and 100 free (1:07.48). 

500 Freestylers: There were a number of first time 500 swimmers and some excellent first time efforts! John Crouchley had a strong finish to his race, coming in with a time of 6:36.78. Angelina Zhang and Riley Redmond and Reanna Sy didn’t finish far behind, all three of them finished under the seven-minute mark! ​

Captains Vs. Lieutenants: A Learning Experience

 
The Captains vs. Lieutenants meet was quite the learning experience for our Age Group 3 swimmers this past Sunday. Swims don’t always go as planned, and what’s important is what the athletes learn in those situations! There were a number of fast swims and some first time 500 freestyles, so quite a bit of success to build off of. Below are some highlights of the meet including our swimmers of the meet! 

Swimmers Of The Meet

Ali Mohammad: Ali swam best times in all three of his events which included a 15 second drop in his 100 back (1:26.37), a 32 second drop in the 100 breast (1:42.42) and a 2 second drop in the 50 free (35.78). 

Mya Farrelly: Mya finished her day a perfect three for three with new best times. She dropped 5 seconds in her 100 breast (1:34.78) and swam best times in her 50 fly (47.68) and 50 free (37.14) 

Caiden Chang: Caiden finished his day with three new best times including the 100 back (1:20.95), 100 breast (1:35.38) and 50 fly (39.51). 

The 500 Freestylers: 

Isaac Li: Isaac swam a great first-time 500 free, finishing the event in 6:49.97 and making a Silvers cut in the event. Isaac also swam the 100 breast and finished with another 10 & Under JO cut in the event with a time of 1:32.57. 

Hunter Nacewicz: In a battle of the 11-12 AG3 boys, Hunter came out on top, swimming a very solid 500 (6:48.50). 

Tyler Ip: Tyler hung tough in his first 500 free, swimming his way to a very stellar time of 6:57.62. Tyler also swam a best time in the 50 fly (37.27). 

Chris Leigh: A sprinter by nature, Chris swam a very solid 500 free, finishing the event in a time of 6:58.72. He dropped almost a full second in the 50 fly (36.35). 

Other Notable Swims

Sydney Lei: Sydney finished her day with two new best times in the 50 free (34.80) and the 100 breast  (1:35.97). 

Graham Hefelfinger: Graham kept his goggles on this meet and swam his way to three new best times in the 50 fly (50.27), 100 back (1:41.24) and 100 breast (2:01.97). Good things happen when you can see! ​

Tempo, Tempo, Tempo!

Some outstanding team spirit and many PB’s highlighted Age Group 3’s Chappy’s weekend! The group swam it’s way to an eye popping 191 best times despite a chilly morning and some back to back events! After getting well-acclimated to the new normal the first month of the season, the group focused on bringing fast tempo into their swims and found a great deal of success in doing so! The swimmers below really stood out and are the Chappy’s athletes of the meet!

10 & Under: 

Josie Gans: Josie has been working extremely hard at practice and had an outstanding meet, swimming five best times out of a possible six events. Highlights of her meet included a two second drop and heat win in her 50 free (37.79), and two 20 second drops in her 100 back (1:39.13) and 100 breast (1:52.09). She also swam best times in her 50 back (46.99) and 50 breast (50.94). 

Isaac Li: Isaac finished his meet a perfect six for six in best times and finished in the top 10 in all six events he competed in! Isaac finished 3rd in the 50 back, dropping over 3 seconds and making his first JO cut (35.71). He also dropped 17 seconds in his 200 free (2:36.74) and maintained fast tempo throughout the race! Isaac also swam new best times in the 100 back (1:19.62),100 IM (1:20.32), 50 fly (36.60) and 50 free (32.32). 

11-12:

Angelina Zhang: Angelina finished her meet a perfect six for six in best times while making her first 11-12 Silvers cut in the 200 breast, where she dropped 7 seconds to go a new best time of 3:10.05. In her second 200 of the weekend, Angelina dropped 5 seconds in the 200 back (2:51.65)! She also swam best times in the 50 back (36.83), 100 back (1:19.89), 50 breast (42.36), and 100 IM (1:21.61). 

Tyler Ip: In what was a highly contested swimmer of the meet award in the 11-12 boys group, Tyler swam his way to six new best times, which included a massive (and extremely responsible!!!) 30 second drop in the 200 freestyle (2:35.30). He also had a huge 17 second drop in the 100 IM (1:21.36)! Tyler also swam best times in the 50 free (31.91), 50 fly (38.62), 100 back (1:19.81) and 50 breast (42.49)! 

Honorable Mentions: 

Jimmy Duffy: Jimmy swam a perfect meet with six new best times and dropped a total of 30 seconds across his six events which included the 50 back, 100 IM, 50 Fly, 100 Free, 100 Back, and 50 Breast. 

Avery Lai: Avery (Aves) finished her weekend a perfect six for six and had huge drops in the 100 IM (13 seconds) and 100 breast (13 seconds). Aves also made her first Silvers cuts in the 50 back (40.76) and 100 back (1:29.57). 

Ali Mohammad: Bragging rights in the Mohammad house definitely belonged to Ali this weekend! Swimming in the Saturday session, Ali had three heat wins and three best times, one of which included a JO cut in the 50 back (37.29)! The other two swims included a 19 second drop in the 100 IM and 12 second drop in the 100 free. 

Hunter Nacewicz: Hunter swam six best times on the weekend and got under the 1:30 mark in the 100 breast for the first time (1:29.98) and swam his first 200 free in a very well swam 2:36.44! 

Chris Leigh: Kicking it up another gear in the practice pool has really paid off for Chris starting this season, as he swam five new best times! Chris had a huge 10 second drop in the 200 free (2:38.97) and narrowly missed Silvers in the 50 breast (41.18) and 100 breast (1:31.18). 

Mia Ryzhikov: The group’s youngest member swam six new best times and had drops of over 3 seconds in the 50 breast (56.37) and 100 free (1:30.66). She also swam new best times in the 50 back, 100 IM, 25 fly and 25 free! 
​
Sophie Ngai: Soph-A-Loph, AKA The Noodle Arm Queen, AKA Unicorn 3000, swam six best times this weekend! She had drops of 13 seconds in the 200 free (2:55.44) and 16 seconds in the 100 IM (1:28.62). Soph-A-Loph also swam best times in the 50 back, 50 free, 100 back and 50 breast! 

About The Group

Age Group 3 is a group within our Age group program. The athletes within this team consist of those 12 & under swimmers who can demonstrate proficiency in the 4 competitive swimming strokes and have achieved a 400 point value for swims credited by the USA Swimming evaluation system. They are capable of following a workout designed for this level. Age Group 3 Team has practice 4 times a week, Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday. Members of this team are encouraged to attend practice as often as possible, however, there is no attendance requirement. 

gborutecene@longislandswimming.com - Gabby Borutecene is the Coach of Age Group 3