The Swimmin’ women of Salamanca took a 2nd place overall at the CCAA Division 2 championships held at Olean Friday. These ladies posted 24 personal so best times. Preparing for the post season is always a concern for any coach as we try to get these kids to peak at the right time for personal bests and being able to post qualifying times that will advance them on to the next round of Class C Sectionals. These girls have done a sensational job this season posting a winning record of 8-3-1. It’s been a long time for us to experience that kind of team success with many of the teams partnering up in merged teams. We have always had tremendous pride that we are solely Salamanca athletes and that our numbers are strong. As we progressed through the season, we have gotten so much better at learning how to race. It’s been a work in progress as over the last few years and it’s becoming contagious. Once a few of the kids started really doing well then everyone started to follow which is exactly what we want. We had one CCAA Division 2 Champion with Freshman Kynleigh Wass winning the 200 free in 2:13.18 also earning a #5 spot on the Warriors All Time Top Ten list. The 200 wasn’t an event that she swam much this season but we have known that a little long race was going to be something she was going to excel at. She is one of our captains as a 9th grader because she has natural leadership, she is vocal, dedicated and works incredibly hard and her teammates have a lot of respect for her. Wass also got 2nd in the 10O free 59.59 an big step breaking the 1:00 barrier and she is tied for #9 on the Top 10. Mikaela Tennity was also a top place finisher in the 20O IM with a PR of 2:37.35 and moved up 2 more places in the Top 10. She took that 50 fly out with a great split and all her strokes are very sound technically. She was 4th in the 100 breast with 1:23.85. She has been such a dream to coach. She has had perfect attendance for the last 2 seasons and deserves every bit of her success.
Probably our biggest surprise this meet was Ella Martens. She has been getting stronger and more confident at competitions and she had a memorable night with a 3rd place in the 100 fly 1:17.88 which was a 6 second improvement for her. She also PR in the 100 back 1:21.18 placing 7th. It was her night and we know there is more in the tank. Juliana Smith added a 4th in both the 100 fly and the 500 free. She has been one of the catalysts this season that has set us in motion with better quality swims and Jules has been a real utility swimmer for us this season. Addison Follman was another breakout swimmer this meet taking 4th in the 100 back 1:16.38 and 5th 100 free in 1:04.10 which is one of the Warriors top times in that race. It’s so great to have her back in the water and seeing her find her potential. Junior captain Charli Ross started the meet with a PR in the 20O IM 2:42.68 with a 5th and tied her best in 100 fly 1:20.26 for 5th. Charli possesses so much excitement for this team. She has so much emotional intelligence that drives the energy for us and her efforts make us all better. Our rookie Ava Chriss has been a strong addition to our team and her natural ability and her hunger for improving is going to take her a long way. She was 5th in the 500 free 6:44.60 and 7th in 50 free. She is still so green but has totally exceeded our expectations. Lily John (9th grader) who has really come alive for us. We have been so pleased with her work ethic and her ability to receive our coaching cues and apply them to her techniques. One of our top breaststrokers she was 7th in the 100 breast 1:36.68 and 10th in the 200 IM with another PR 3:10.47. Alexa Reed a strong butter flyer touched the wall for 8th in 100 fly and 12th in the 200 IM. Alexa has added to our team’s depth and is always willing to swim the hard races for us. Another rookie Makenna McCormick has been lighting up with her distance freestyle posting incredible improvements almost every time she swims. She was 9th in the 500 7:45.24 10th in the 200 free 2:49.62. Rileigh Hutchison was 5th in the 1 meter diving and 9th in the 100 back 1:32.88with a huge PR Gabby Bly was 6th in diving and also grabbed 12th place in the 100 breast. Jamila Nelthrope was 8th in diving Our divers really added to our team score this year and have been working hard to get qualified for Class C competition. They are gaining confidence and it shows in their performances. Arianna Acosta a first year 9th grader has done an incredible job with learning all the strokes and does not shy away from hard work. She was 12th in the 100 fly and 13th in the 200 free and will help fill out a few relays for the Class meet. Lori Pierce a first-year 7th grader has been a nice surprise for us this year. She has absorbed everything we have given her and the results and improvements are amazing. She fights so hard in that water and I think we are going to see some great things from her and all the new kids we have. Lori had a PR in the 200 free 3:05.13 for 14th and was 17th in the 100 free. Both our 200 free and 400 free relays Sean for 2nd place against Frewsburg /Falconer. But we posted to season bests 1:54.36 and 4:20.36.
