WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Purple Valley Aquatics hosted its annual USA Swimming sponsored meet at Williams College June 9-10.

 

This year PVA had many returning athletes and some new faces on deck as well. Swimming in their first meet ever were Sylvie Clowes and Mia Harding, who each had amazing races, competing in the 50-meter freestyle and 50 backstroke. Graham Maramag had many notable swims and placed seventh in the boys 12 and under 100 butterfly.

 

Harper Stevenson, who already has qualified to swim at the Long Course Age Group Championship meet in July, dropped 7 seconds in her 100 backstroke. Along with many other amazing races, Harper placed second in the 100 butterfly (dropping 6 seconds) and also took second in the 100 breaststroke. Julia Goh, another PVA athlete who made substantial progress this season, dropped 18 seconds in her 100 freestyle, landing her in 13th place

 

A few other 12 and under athletes who raced well at the PVA Invitational and are really coming alive in their swimming careers were Ian Fredette, who placed in the top 20 in five of his events, his brother Noah, who dropped 28 seconds in the 100 backstroke, bringing him in 15th place, and Nick King, who swam to 20th place in the 100 backstroke. Lydia Shustack also swam some amazing races as she splashed to a ninth-place finish in the 50 butterfly, and dropped substantial time in her 50 freestyle as well as her 100 backstroke.

 

PVA's 13 and over athletes showed improvements as well during the course of the weekend. Leading the team with spirit, support and enthusiasm, the older athletes have really started taking on a leadership role on the team.

 

Asa Stone took second in the 100 butterfly, eighth in the 400 freestyle and ninth in the 800 freestyle as well as the 200 butterfly. Gabriela Zasada placed in the top 20 swimmers in not only the 50 freestyle, but also the 200 freestyle, the 400 meter freestyle, the 800 meter freestyle and the 200 meter breaststroke. Samantha Stevenson came on strong, swimming a personal best in the 200 freestyle, 11th in the 800 freestyle and 11th in the 100 butterfly as well.

 

Swimming his core events unrested, Cole Kuster placed first overall in the 200 free, 400 free and 400 individual medley and second in the 50 free, performing along his personal best times in those events. In addition, Cole achieved best times in the 200 IM, 200 breast, and 100 fly. Cole will continue training and preparing for championship season where he will compete at New England Seniors mid-July at Brown University and has qualified to compete at the USA Swimming Junior Nationals, which will be held in Irvine, Calif., this summer.

 

"Everyone swam as well if not much better than expected for this time in the long course season," PVA coach Karrie Honecker said. "It is always extremely fun to host a meet at Williams College and we had a great cohort of athletes on deck cheering for each other and enjoying the team camaraderie.

 

"A meet of this size takes a substantial amount of time and energy from our parents, coaches and official volunteers. We are extremely grateful to everyone who gave their weekend to support this team and their athletes."

 

PVA will send five athletes to Brown University this weekend to compete in the Summer Fiesta Meet.