Cards Snare 2d, 4th in First Annual NoVA Catholic Swim, Dive Meet

It was a good weekend for the swim and dive team who participated in the first annual Northern Virginia Catholic Swim and Dive Inviational which was held on Saturday the 8th at GMU’s Freedom Center in Manassas. The boys finished 4th overall and the girls came in 2nd. Seven teams participated.

The Cardinals got off to a fast start thanks to an overwhelming performance by the divers. Elizabeth Schaefermeier took first place, Alex Branham took second and making a sweep for BI was Sarah Fyffe in third place. Cameron Wallace also dove well for BI among tough competition and finished 5th.

The BI girls won all 3 relays with the team of Collins, Kroesen, Wulff, and Zeigler. The BI boys relays placed 2nd in the 200 freestyle and the 200 medley and took 3rd in the 400 free. Top individual finishers in the meet were: Kelly Palmer( 2nd in the 200 free and 3rd in the 500 free), Liz Collins (1st in the 100 ******), Brian McGinty (3rd in the 200 IM), Kevin Grant (1st in the 50 free), Laura Becht (3rd in the 50 and 100 free),Saskia Kroesen (2nd in the 100 fly), Michael Ryan Clark (3rd in 100 back), and Maddie Zeigler (1st in 100 back). See http://www.eteamz.com/admin/sitez/download.cfm?id=1911526&site=4889348 for all the individual results from the meet.

The first championship meet of the season, Catholic Nationals, is coming up quickly at the end of this month. This is a swim-only meet. The swimmers who have qualified in individual events so far are: Laura Becht (Sr), Michael Ryan Clark (Jr), Liz Collins (Sr), Ryan Dougherty (Jr), Kevin Grant (So), Saskia Kroesen (Sr), Brian McGinty (Sr), Kelly Palmer (So), Allessandra Orellana (Fr), Allison Wulff (Sr) and Maddie Zeigler (Jr.) In addition, many of the BI Relays have qualified for this meet.

Coach John Gullickson points to the hard work of a number of Cardinal swimmers so far this season. The team has seen times drop as much as 2 sec or more within a 2 month period, impressive performances by the team! Coach Gullickson singled out the following BI swimmers who have made substantial gains:

Kevin Abbed: 2.44 sec off in the 50 free
Laura Becht: 2.45 sec off in the 200 IM
Carlos Cheriboga: 8.38 sec off in the 100 fly
Michael Ryan Clark: 2.77 off in the 200 IM
Andrew Crandall: 2:05 sec off in the 50 free, 9.48 sec off in the 100 free and 2.64 sec off in the 100 ******
Chris Fees: 3.55 sec off in the 50 free
Loren Gant: 5.25 sec off n the 500 free
Lindy Gillard: 2.95 sec off in the 50 free
Katherine Kennedy: 5.88 sec off in the 100 back
Kathleen Kerr: 6.36 sec off in the 50 free
Meghan Mejia: 2.90 sec off in the 100 ******
Robert Mejia: 16.49 sec off in the 100 free
Avery Morrison: 2.38 sec off in the 50 free
Vince Mule: 6.61 sec off in the 100 fly
Kelly Palmer: 5.50 sec off in the 500 free
Emi Quinn: 2.96 sec off in the 100 free
TommyReichelt: 3.75 sec off in the 500 free and 7.03 sec off in the 100 back
Carolyn Reigel: 2.41 sec off in the 50 free
Juan Lucas Rodriguez: 2.52 sec off in the 50 free
Maddy Zeigler: 2.06 sec off in the 100 back