Championship End of Season Blog
Senior Sectional Championship
This was the largest group of swimmers going to a Senior Sectional and/or above Championship Meet. We had 18 swimmers go in which everyone had great attitudes towards being successful and to learn at the meet. I was so very proud of this group of swimmers – Way to Go Team TRITON!
National Team
Meet Highlights – Top 32 – Getting to Swim @ Finals
Cason Henderson
· 200 Fly – 18th Place – 1:50.67 – PB x .32
· 100 Fly – 29th Place – 50.75
· 200 IM – 26th Place – 1:54.95 – PB x .51
Adam Tichy
· 1650 Free – 30th Place – 16:38.71 – PB x .95
· Best Times in the 20 Free/1000 Free/1650 Free and 200 Back
Ben Wafford
· 200 Breast – 35th Place – 2:09.89 – PB x .48 – Defined Pace Work Pays OFF – Way to Go!
13&O Kentucky State Championship
Team TRITON finishes in 2nd Place with an incredible weekend of swimming. We brought the hype very day as a team. You could tell who was in the water and in the stands. It was Team TRITON!
2022 Team Results
2nd Place – Overall – 1,697.00
3rd Place – Male – 845.00
2nd Place – Female – 770.00
High Point Award Winners
13-14 Girls
1st – Hanna Schmidt
3rd – Ava Grazziani
13-14 Boys
1st – Meyer Hitch
National Team
First, I would like to recognize the HS Senior leadership at their final short course championship for Team TRITON. They showed some great efforts and enthusiasm during the weekend!
Dane Brunderman, Elizabeth Frericks, Cason Henderson, Jake Lundquist, Adam Tichy and Jack Youdes
Meet Highlights:
· Curtis Feller – 200 Breast – 9th Place – Futures Cut!!!
· Cason Henderson – 200 Fly – State Champion – Going out on top!!!
o Ben Wafford – 200 Fly – 7th Place
o Jack Youdes – 200 Fly – 8th Place
§ All three being HS Seniors in the Final of the 200 Fly!!!
· Adam Tichy – Going Top 8 in the following events. He showed some Diesel Power!
o 500 Free – 8th Place
o 1000 Free – 5th Place
o 1650 Free – 7th Place
· Jake Lundquist showing incredible racing by swimming 8/11 Lifetime Best Swims!!!
· Jacob Day – 1650 Free – 6th Place – Senior Sectional Cut!!!
· Ethan Lindeman – 200 IM – 8th Place- Senior Sectional Cut!!!
o 9/13 Lifetime Best Swim!!!
· Ryan Miller – 100 Back – 12th Place – Senior Sectional Cut!!!
Senior 1:
SARAH C.DAWSON, MEYER HITCH, HANNA SCHMIDT, MASHA SHTAPOVA, AND KAYLEE VANDER VELDEN REPRESENTED SENIOR 1 AT SECTIONALS IN CARY,NC..IT WAS A HUGE LEARNING EXPERIENCE FOR ALL.WAKING UP EARLY TO SWIM IN A LANE WITHOUT GETTING RUN OVER WAS WORTH IT.FLUSHING OUT AFTER PACE WORK AND SPRINTS IS NECESSARY.YOUR BODY DOES NOT KNOW IT IS AT A IMPORTANT MEET.THINGS DO NOT ALWAYS GO AS PLANNED,BUT IF YOU CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION YOUR NEXT SWIM IS BETTER.FINALLY EVEN OLYMPIANS ARE TIRED,SORE,AND SWIM SLOWER ON THE LAST DAY OF THE MEET AT PRELIMS AND IF YOU RISE TO THE OCCASION YOU GET A FINALS SWIM.
SARAH C TOOK THE KNOWLEDGE FROM SECTIONALS AND APPLIED IT TO BEST TIMES AT STATE IN 400 IM AND 200FLY.SHE FELT THAT THE CARDINAL CLASSIC WAS HER BEST MEET OF THE SEASON AND IS LOOKING FORWARD TO LONG COURSE.
MEYER WAS VERY PLEASED WITH HIS 200 FREE AT SECTIONALS AND FEELS MORE CONFIDENT SWIMMING WITH OLDER GUYS AS A RESULT.HIS CONFIDENCE CARRIED OVER TO STATE AS HE WON HIGH POINT FOR 13-14 BOYS AND IS VERY CLOSE TO A FUTURES CUT IN THE 100 FLY.HE FELT NASHVILLE WAS HIS BEST MEET. LONG COURSE HE WOULD LIKE TO TRAIN MORE BREASTSTROKE AND THE 400 AND 800 FREE.
HANNA SCHMIDT WAS MOST EXCITED BEING SEATED 70TH IN THE 100 FREE AND QUALIFYING 22ND AND GETTING THE FUTURES CUT.SHE ALSO WON THE CONSOLE HEAT FROM LANE 1 IN THE 200 BREAST.SHE WAS GLAD TO GET HOME AND BE WITH HER OTHER TEAMMATES FOR STATE.HER GOAL WAS TO SWIM FOR FUN AND WIN HIGH POINT.SHE DID WIN AND PICKED UP 2 MORE FUTURES CUTS IN THE 100 FLY AND 50 FREE.SHE WOULD LIKE TO KEEP EXPANDING HER RESUME WITH THE 400 AND 800 FREE,PLUS IMPROVE HER BACKSTROKE.
MASHA SWAM A SUPER 200 BACK AT SECTIONALS AND THEN WENT EVEN FASTER AT STATE AND IS NOT FAR OFF THE FUTURES CUT.THE LESSONS SHE LEARNED AT SECTIONALS AGAIN CAME THROUGH AS SHE CRUSHED HER 400IM TIME IN PRELIMS AND MADE FINALS.SHE ALSO WOULD LIKE TO EXPAND HER RESUME WORKING MORE FLY AND IM.
KAYLEE SWAM A GUTSY 200 BACK AND KEPT HER HEAD IN THE GAME AT SECTIONALS.I COULD ALWAYS COUNT ON HER TO RALLY THE TROOPS TO GO CHEER FOR THEIR TEAMMATES. STATE SHE WAS MOST PLEASED WITH HER 100 FLY.I WAS IMPRESSED WITH A BEST IN THE 100 FREE,INTO A 200 FLY,AND FINISHING WITH A 100 BACK ON THE LAST DAY.SHE WANTS TO WORK ON HER 200 BREAST AND 400 IM DURING LONG COURSE.
RILEY AUTON WENT ALL BEST TIMES AND ACHIEVED A SPRING SECTIONAL CUT IN HER 200 BACK AND MEDALED IN THE MILE.FINDING HER BALANCE BETWEEN MIND AND BODY ALONG WITH HER WORK ETHIC SHOULD MAKE FOR AN AWESOME LONG COURSE SEASON.
EVAN BARSCH WAS VERY EXCITED ABOUT HIS FREE RELAY SPLIT OF 22.5 AND WAS HAPPY WITH HIS 200 FLY.HE FEELS THAT THE CARDINAL CLASSIC WAS HIS BEST MEET OF THE SEASON.HE WILL NOT BE SWIMMING IN COLLEGE SO STATE WAS HIS LAST MEET. WE SHALL MISS YOU EVAN AS A HARD WORKER AND A GREAT TEAMMATE.WE WISH YOU ALL THE BEST.
IAN BEIERLE HAD A SOLID 100 AND 200 BREAST,BUT HIS 100 BACK WAS JUST BEAUTIFUL .KNOWING HOW BAD HE WAS FEELING I AM PROUD OF HIS SWIMS AND TEAM SPIRIT . IAN'S BEST MEET WAS NASHVILLE WHERE HE MADE HIS 100 AND 200 BREASTSTROKE SECTIONAL CUTS. HE WOULD LIKE TO WORK MORE BACK AND FLY THIS SUMMER TO TRY AND GET HIS IM CUTS.
JACK BOLYARD WENT ALL BEST TIMES,BUT WAS MOST PLEASED WITH HIS 500 FREE AS HE GETS CLOSER TO BREAKING 5 MINUTES.CONSIDERING HE CIRCLE SWAM THE MILE,1000, AND 500 AND DROP HUGE AMOUNTS OF TIME,ONE CAN ONLY IMAGINE HOW FAST HE COULD HAVE BEEN GOING STRAIGHT.CARDINAL CLASSIC WAS HIS BREAKOUT MEET.THIS SUMMER JACK WANTS TO WORK ON HIS 400 IM,FLY,BREAST AND ALTERNATE BREATHING.
ALEXANDER BRIDGMOHAN WENT A BEST TIME IN HIS 50 BACK AND ENJOYED HIS LAST SHORT COURSE MEET AS A TRITON SWIMMER.WITHOUT A DOUBT HIS BEST MEET OF THE SEASON WAS HUNTSVILLE,COMING OFF LONG COURSE CHRISTMAS TRAINING .HE PLANS TO TRAIN WITH US THIS SUMMER AS WELL AS SWIM SEVERAL MEETS.THEN OFF TO DEPAUL FOR SCHOOL AND SWIMMING.THE GUYS WILL MISS HOW HARD HE TRAINS AND COMRADERY THEY HAVE DURING SOME OF THE LONG SETS.WE WISH YOU ONLY THE BEST.
COLIN CAVNOR WENT BEST TIMES IN HIS 100 FREE AND 100FLY .MAKING SENIOR MEN'S CUT FOR SOMEONE THAT JUST AGED UP IS IMPRESSIVE.THIS SUMMER COLIN WILL WORK ON EXPANDING HIS RESUME WITH SOME BREAST,BACK,AND IM WORK.
DREW COLLIS HAD A BEAUTIFUL 400 IM AND A SOLID 200 BREAST.FISHER'S WAS DREWS BREAKOUT MEET AND FIRST STATE CUT.LONG COURSE HE WOULD LIKE TO CONTINUE TO WORK ON HIS 200 AND 400 IM 'S AND ADD IN BACKSTROKE AND THE 50 FREE. AS ONE OF OUR CAPTAINS HE HAS PICKED HIS TRAINING INTENSITY AND IS BECOMING A LEADER.
EMMA LINDEMAN HAD A GREAT STATE MEET ADDING 4 MORE SUMMER SECTIONAL CUTS IN THE 100 FREE,100 BACK,100 FLY,AND 200 IM IN WHICH SHE DROPPED OVER 7 SECONDS.LONG COURSE SHE WILL WORK ON THE 400 FREE,50 FREE AND 200 BACK AND SEEING IF A FUTURES CUT IS WITHIN REACH.
GREG POST BEGAN STATE AS AN OUTSIDE SMOKE IN THE 200 FREE THAT WAS ONLY .6 FROM THE SUMMER SECTIONAL CUT IN THE 100 FREE HE GOT THE SUMMER SECTIONAL CUT AND IN THE 50 FREE HE IS ONLY .3 FROM THE SUMMER CUT. LONG COURSE CONTINUING TO WORK ON HIS KICK AND SQUARING UP HIS TURNS.HE WILL EXPAND HIS HIS RESUME BY ADD 100 BACK,100 FLY, 100 BREAST AND 200 IM.
EVERETT SEIFERT ENDED THE STATE MEET WITH A 16+ SECOND DROP IN THE MILE.HE ALSO WENT BEST TIMES IN THE 200 FLY,200 BREAST,AND 50 FREE.LONG COURSE WILL FIND HIM WORKING ON MORE CONSISTENT UNDERWATERS AND BACKSTROKE TO HELP HIS IM'S.HE FELT THAT HUNTSVIILE WAS HIS BREAKOUT MEET.
AS I SPOKE TO EACH SWIM ABOUT STATE A CONSISTENT THEME STOOD OUT.WHEN THEY STEPPED ON THE BLOCK THEY FELT THAT NOT ONLY WAS THEIR COACH AND PARENTS BEHIND THEM,BUT THE WHOLE TEAM WAS BEHIND THEM.THEY WERE EMPOWERED.THANK YOU TO EACH SWIMMER AND PARENT FOR SUPPORTING TRITON.
Senior 2: Sectionals
Senior II was represented at the Senior Sectionals meet in Cary, NC over the past weekend by Sara Frericks, Ava Grazziani, and Adam Hetman. Sara swam in three events, getting a best time in her 200 Breaststroke. Ava swam in four events and got best times in the 100 Backstroke, 100 Freestyle, and the 200 Backstroke. Adam qualified in the 100 Backstroke. This was all of their first time qualifying for and swimming at the Senior Sectionals level. Anytime you swim at a meet that is at a new, higher level up competition, the greatest challenge most often comes by just getting a best time. It can be a very nerve racking experience, especially when you look at a heat sheet and see several heats in a row of swimmers times being separated by merely tenths of a second. Ava, Sara, and Adam each proved to be able to focus on what they needed to do to achieve their goals for the weekend. I believe that each of these young adults learned a lot about themselves and what they need to do in practice to be even more competitive the next time they race at Sectionals. Congratulations to you all! We are proud of you.
Senior 2 State Champs:
I am incredibly proud of this group. I can’t even begin to explain how honored I am to have been able to work with this group all season. Every swimmer in this group has their own, unique story of adversity that they have worked through or are working through. Some were able to fully conquer their adversities while others are still fighting to work through it. During the meet this weekend, everyone gave everything they had in every race they swam. That is what I am so proud of. The toughness of this group showed up more than ever this weekend. When things aren’t going your way, it is so easy to throw in the towel, especially when swimming events like the 1000, 1650, 400 IM, or 200 Breast. Not his group. This group got on the blocks and gave 100% of what they had in that moment. No scratches. No excuses. No quit. Just determination and grit. It’s awesome when things go well, but you find out who you really are when they don’t. We are Tritons. We will grow from this weekend. I am looking forward to seeing what is to come.
100% Best times:
Mateo Agusti
Adam Hetman
New Achievements:
Mateo Agusti – Open State Cut in the 1650 Freestyle
Steven Bridgmohan – 13-14 State Cut in the 200 Backstroke
Hartley Brinkmoeller – Open State Cut in the 1000 Freestyle
Caitlin Day – Open State Cut in the 1000 Freestyle
Ava Grazziani – Open State Cut in the 200 IM, Sectional Cut in the 500 Freestyle
Adam Hetman – Open State Cut in the 100 Butterfly
Swimmer of the Meet for Senior II:
Mateo Agusti – Mateo had the State Meet that every swimmer dreams of having. Every single race that Mateo swam was faster than his best time coming into the meet. This monumental feat was built by his commitment to continuously improve upon his work ethic in training. In total, Mateo dropped 1:29.99 over the weekend. In the 31 years that I have been coaching, I am having a difficult time recalling having an individual’s championship meet performance be anywhere near as impressive as Mateo’s was at the State Meet. Congratulations Mateo!
AGP:
AGP 13 & Over Championship-
Great job to all the 13-14 swimmers in AGP! They worked hard over the course of this past season to make state cuts and swim at the meet. Harper Lawson started the Friday session with a 3 second drop in her 200 free to make finals where she dropped an additional second! Our goal was to grab short course state cuts in the bonus events, and she was able to in her 200 free. Grace Dicken finally was able to drop a second in her 100 breast from last short course state meet which was her goal that she accomplished! Great job AGP girls!
AGP boys swam very well as Jackson Brown dropped in all of his events and was able to make it into finals in the 200 breast on Saturday night dropping 5 seconds overall. Great job Jackson! Jake Mattingly dropped time in his 200 breast, as well as his 100 breast and 100 free. Although he didn’t make finals, he was able to improve his times for next season. Guy Proctor dropped 5 seconds in his 200 breast as well as a second and a half in the 100 breast. Jameson Seraphine swam hard this weekend, dropping 3 seconds in his 200 free, just over 3 seconds total in his 100 breast making finals on Friday night. He also dropped 3 seconds in his 200 breast and nearly 2 seconds in his 50 free and 2 seconds in his 100 back. We are proud of Jack Borraga and while he didn’t improve his times this weekend, he swam hard this season and he cheered on his teammates at State. He did swim well in the relays that he participated in.
We talked in AGP that if I didn’t meet my expectations at the meet, how can I find ways to improve and be better as I continue to age into faster age groups. For most, they are at the bottom of the 13-14s but have shown so much improvement and determination as we all seek to build upon the successes we had this past short course season. As I mentioned in the 11-12 blog post, I asked AGP to think about what kind of swimmer they are. I asked the 13-14s to think about how "that" swimmer’s mindset leads to meet performances. I am proud of the 13-14 swimmers as they are ALL very talented swimmers who have worked hard. Keep up the hard work and good things will happen! #ALLIN