Local Swimmers Kick Hard Toward ChampionshipsBy Bruce Whitney - March 14, 2008
Community Submission
WILLIAMSTOWN - Top local swimmers had prepared for their best swim of their season at the YMCA New England Championships this past weekend at Harvard University in Cambridge.
Nearly 20 youngsters from North and Central Berkshire County made the tough cut. Some of them have participated in these championships in past years.
Qualifying times vary by age group and event. All season long it has been the clear goal of many swimmers to achieve qualifying times, which vary by event and age grouping, and make it to this elite event.
Twin 10-year-olds Emma and Julia Whitney joined local high school swimming phenom Joe Krok in qualifying for nearly every length and stroke in their respective age groups. According to championship rules, each swimmer may compete in just three individual events selected from all in which they have qualified.
Emma Whitney has chosen to swim 50- and 100-yard backstroke, where she is ranked second throughout New England. She will also swim 50 butterfly as the fourth fastest in the region. Her sister Julia has selected 100-yard individual medley, in which she is ranked seventh as well as 50- and 100-yard breaststroke, ranked fifth and seventh in New England, respectively.
These swimmers belong to two teams: Pittsfield Polar Bears, coached by former National Champion Kriste Kleiner and Northern Berkshire YMCA Bettas coached by Cheryl Ryan.
New England YMCA Championship swimmers from the region and their events and their ranking/championship race seedings include:
Girls 9-10
Emma Whitney: 50 Backstroke (2); 100 backstroke (2); 50 butterfly (4)
Julia Whitney: 100 individual medley (5); 50 breaststroke (5); 100 breaststroke (7)
Girls 11-12
Alyssa Bush: 50 freestyle (24); 100 freestyle (22)
Heather Foley: 50 butterfly (6); 100 butterfly (9)
Cori Ghidotti: 100 breaststroke (38)
Alexi Novelli: 50 freestyle (30)
Boys 13-14
Nate Leighton 50 freestyle (TBD); 100 freestyle (TBD); 50 butterfly (TBD)
Girls 15-18
Kaitlan Ahrens: 200 individual medley (37)
Ryan Galusha: 50 freestyle (54)
Brittany Gage: 100 backstroke (44)
Ashley Kirchner: 200 individual medley (11); 100 butterfly (35) 100 breaststroke (8)
Tyra Mazzer: 100 butterfly (TBD)
Boys 15-18
Adam Blefari: 100 breaststroke (TBD)
Taylor Bye: 50 freestyle (TBD)
John Erdeski: 100 butterfly (23); 100 backstroke (27) 50 freestyle (47)
Robert Kinney: 100 breaststroke (17)
Joe Krok: 200 individual medley (3); 100 breaststroke (15); 100 freestyle (11)
Zach Lebarron: 100 freestyle (25); 50 freestyle (17) 200 freestyle (18)
Andrew Wolf: 100 butterfly (20); 100 backstroke (25); 50 freestyle (39) |
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