RFTW ‘Who swam it Fastest’ and All DMV 2019-2020

By Reach for the Wall Staff

With everything shut down for a while, we thought it was a good time to celebrate the swimmers that competed throughout the DMV during the High School season. We’ve compiled the results from over 30 championship meets conducted across the DMV through the end of February. We combed through all the results to generate this culminating report. Congratulations to all the athletes!!

This season, we witnessed a National High School Records from Phoebe Bacon and Torri Huske! Phoebe in the girls 100 Backstroke and Torri in the girls 100 butterfly. In individual high school events in the DMV, there were 54 Automatic All American and 92 All American Consideration qualifying swims. In the Women’s 100 Butterfly, 13 of the top 16 athletes on the All-DMV list for those events swam at least an All American Consideration time!  That is, the 100 Butterfly had 5 Automatic and 8 Consideration. On the Men’s side, the top event was also the 100 Butterfly where 12 of the 16 times met either an Automatic or All American Consideration time standard, with the top two achieving the Automatic standard.

Based on the 2019-2020 high school swimming season, below are our designations for “Who Swam It Fastest”, the All-DMV Team, Swimmer of the Year and Diver of the Year.

Who Swam It Fastest

To determine who swam a particular high school event the fastest, we analyzed which swimmer had the fastest time in comparison to the relevant All American standard (listed in the table).

Girls (Individual):

Event Time Name School Date Meet AA Std Diff % diff
50 Free 21.83 Victoria Huske YTWN 2/22/2020 2020 VHSL Class 6 States 23.20 1.37 5.81%
100 Free 48.63(leadoff) Victoria Huske YTWN 2/22/2020 2020 VHSL Class 6 States 50.19 1.56 3.1%
200 Free

1:45.96

Erin Gemmell SR 2/5/2020 2020 Metro Championships 1:48.74 3.31 3.04%
500 Free 4:47.09Maren Conze WAJ 2/5/2020 2020 Metro Championships 4:52.18 5.09 1.74%
100 Back 50.89 Phoebe Bacon SR 2/5/2020 2020 Metro Championships 54.80 3.91 7.13%
100 Breast 59.76 Anna Keating JMAD 2/22/2020 2020 VHSL Class 6 States 1:02.58 2.95 4.71%
100 Fly 50.69 Victoria Huske YTWN 2/22/2020 2020 VHSL Class 6 State 54.42 3.73 6.85%
200 IM 1:55.39 Phoebe Bacon SR 2/5/2020 2020 Metro Championships 2:01.51

6.12

5.04%

1M Diving497.30Haley MarshallGC 2/5/2020 2020 Metro Championships N/AN/AN/A

Girls (Relays):

EventRankTimeStdSchoolDateMeetSwimmer 1Swimmer 2Swimmer 3Swimmer 4
Women  200 Free Relay11:34.43AAAUJMAD2/12/20202020   VHSL Region 6DAlexandra Dicks (JR)Morgan Howat (JR)Anna Keating (SR)Elizabeth Kuhlkin (SR)
Women  200 Medley Relay11:41.62AAAUSR2/5/20202020   Metro ChampionshipsPhoebe Bacon (SR)Eleanor Sun (FR)Erin Gemmell (FR)Tia Thomas (JR)
Women  400 Free Relay13:24.25AAAUSR2/5/20202020   Metro ChampionshipsMakenzie Higgins (SR)Erika Chen (SR)Eleanor Sun (FR)Phoebe Bacon (SR)

Boys(Individual):

EventTimeNameSchoolDateMeetAA Std

Diff

% diff
50 Free19.79Anthony GrimmOAKT2/21/20202020 VHSL Class 6 State20.540.753.65%
100 Free44.34Trace WallRRHS2/20/20202020 VHSL Class 5 State44.950.611.36%
200 Free1:38.14Jacob Rosner

L

2/5/20202020 Metro Championships

1:38.40

0.260.3%
500 Free4:22.99Sam OliverJCHS2/21/20202020 VHSL Class 6 State4:28.385.341.99%
100 Back48.16Brett FeyerickPREP2/5/20202020 Metro Championships

49.38

1.222.47%
100 Breast53.86Anthony GrimmOAKT2/21/20202020 VHSL Class 6 State55.841.983.54%
100 Fly48.71Landon GentryPATR2/07/20202020 Region 6B Championship48.920.21.4%
200 IM1:50.24Noah RutbergWCH2/5/20202020 Metro Championships1:49.57-.67-.61%
1M Diving530.80Sam DuncanJMAD2/21/20202020 VHSL Class 6 State N/AN/AN/A

Boys (Relays):

EventRankTimeStdSchoolDateMeetSwimmer 1Swimmer 2Swimmer 3Swimmer 4
Men  200 Free Relay11:23.39AAAUWWH2/22/20202020   MPSSAA 4A3A State Alec Cooper Michael Paulos Kris Lawson Lucca Scott 
Men  200 Medley Relay11:31.28AAAUGONZ2/1/20202020   WMPSSDL ChampionshipRyan Catron Mac Marsh Matthew Pottker Ollie Bernasek 
Men  400 Free Relay13:04.91AAAUGONZ2/1/20202020   WMPSSDL ChampionshipMatthew Pottker Ryan Catron Jt Ewing Ollie Bernasek 

All-DMV Team

We all know that the Washington Post identifies ‘All-Met’ swimmers each year (BoysGirls)citing their judgement and placement in championship meets as criteria.  But we also want to recognize high school swimmers in our area based on how the NCAA/College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA) determines their All-American teams, so we’re designating an “All-DMV Team”.

Basically, if we were to simulate a single championship meet, the top 1-8 finishers in each event would be First Team All-DMV, and the next 9-16 would be Second Team All-DMV.  Also, to be considered for the All-DMV team and Swimmer of the Year, the swimmer/school must be within a 50 mile radius of Washington D.C.  

All DMV Team Listings(each spreadsheet has the top times):

Individuals:

Relays:

Swimmer of the Year

Last, the discussion for Swimmer of the Year.  In some team sports (e.g., NBA/MLB), this honor is given to the athlete that has the highest impact on the team and has elevated the team to great performances. In other sports, this honor is given to the athlete that has the best single/multiple performances in a specified event.

Here’s what we’re using for our criteria:

  1. The swimmer must have at least 1 top time in an event in the DMV;
  2. S/he has a faster time than the All American standard for an event (and the higher percentage above the standard, the better);
  3. S/he is ranked in the country as provided by SwimCloud.com; and
  4. As a tie-breaker/additional consideration, number of swims in the top 16

Girls

Based on the criteria above, Torri Huske, Yorktown (DMV ranks: 1st 100 fly, 1st 50 free, 1st 100 free, 2nd 200 Free, 3rd 500 Free, 2nd 200 IM), Phoebe Bacon, Stone Ridge (DMV ranks: 1st 100 back, 3rd 100 Fly, 1st 200 IM),  are the candidates for our female ‘Swimmer of the Year’ award.

Swimmer of the Year (Girls):

Phoebe Bacon, Stone Ridge

Performance rundown:

Runner Up:

Torri Huske, Yorktown

Performance Rundown:

Diver of the Year (Woman):

Haley Marshall, Good Counsel

There were 4 divers in the mix for this consideration, Haley Marshall, Good Counsel, Genevieve Thibodeau, Stone Ridge, Michelle Mazzara Stone Ridge, and Madison Grosz, James Madison. Haley (#27 in the U.S.) amassed the highest point total of divers in the area with her win at Metros. Metros was among her three wins at championship events, National Catholic (where she set a meet record), WMPSSDL, and Metros. Genevieve (#51 in the U.S.) placed 2nd at Metros (posting DMV 3rd best score 453.70), 3rd at WMPSSDL, and 3rd at National Catholics. Michelle (#59 in the U.S.) was in the mix with her 2nd place finishes at National Catholics and WMPSSDL scoring 466 points (2nd best in the DMV) and 5th place finish at Metros. Madison (#95 in the U.S.) won the VHSL Class 6 State and the Region 6 championship title, her highest point total of 447.95 at the state meet which is 4th in the DMV.

Notables:

Erin Gemmell, Stone Ridge, as a Freshman posted the top time in the DMV in the Girls 200 Freestyle, (5th in the U.S. ) the 3rd fastest 100 Free (#21 in the U.S.), both Automatic All American times. Two other Freshman had stellar seasons were Camille Spink, Battlefield who posted three Automatic All American times in the following: #2 time in the DMV in the 100 Free (#15 in the U.S), 3rd in the 200 Free (#8 in the U.S.) and 4th in the 100 back (#22 in the U.S.); and Maren Conze, Walter Johnson who posted the top time in the DMV in the 500 Free (#10 in the U.S.), 5th in the 200 Free (#28 in the U.S.) and 15th in the 100 free. Her 500 and 200 times are also Automatic All American. Other swimmers with multiple Automatic All American standards: Anna Keating, James Madison 100 Breast (#1 DMV, #2 in the U.S. as of 3/15) 200 IM (#6 in the DMV, #38 in the U.S.); Abby Carr, Washington Christian Academy 100 Back (#6 DMV, #52 in the U.S. as of 3/15), 100 Fly (#5 DMV, #36 in the U.S as of 3/15); Abby Harter, Briar Woods 100 Breast (#3 DMV, #40 in the U.S. as of 3/15), 100 Fly (#2 DMV, #7 in the U.S as of 3/15), 200 IM (#3 DMV, #18 in the U.S. as of 3/15); Catherine Belyakov, Quince Orchard 100 Breast (#2 DMV, #31 in the U.S. as of 3/15), 200 IM (#5 DMV, #34 in the U.S. as of 3/15); Mackenzie McConagha, Briar Woods 100 Back (#2 DMV, #10 in the U.S. as of 3/15) 100 Fly (#4 DMV, #31 in the U.S. as of 3/15); Sophie Duncan, Holton Arms 500 Free (#2 DMV, #28 in the U.S as of 3/15) 200 IM (#4 DMV, #20 in the U.S. as of 3/15)

Boys

Based on the criteria above,   Anthony Grimm, Oakton (DMV Ranks: 1st 50 Free, 1st 100 Breast, 3rd 100 Back, 15th 100 Free),  Brett Feyerick, Georgetown Prep (DMV Ranks: 1st 100 Back, 3rd 100 free, 4th 50 free) Trace Wall , Rock Ridge (DMV Ranks: 1st 100 Free, 2nd 50 Free) and Sam Oliver, John Champe (DMV Ranks: 1st 500 Free, 3rd 200 Free) are the candidates for our male ‘Swimmer of the Year’ distinction.

Swimmer of the Year (Male):

Anthony Grimm, Oakton

Performance Rundown:

Runner Up (Tie):

Brett Feyerick, Georgetown Prep

Performance Rundown:

Trace Wall, Rock Ridge

Diver of the Year (Male):

Sam Duncan, James Madison

Sam (#29 in the U.S.) posted the top score across the DMV with 530.80 points, was the top diver during the VHSL dual meet season, won the Concorde District, Region 6 and Class 6 State meet. Other divers in consideration were Michael Parker, Sherwood (#31 in the U.S), who posted a 529.20 winning Metros, also swept the titles at the MPSSAA Region and State meets. Finn Gelbach, The Heights posted the third best score in the DMV with a 509.95 and placed 1st at the WMPSSDL, and WCAC meets and 2nd at Metros and National Catholics.

Notables:

The relay teams from Gonzaga posted the fastest times in 2 of the three relays and earned Automatic All American in all three. The 200 Medley Relay time of 1:31.28 is the 10th fastest in the U.S and the 400 Free Relay 3:04.91 is the 25th fastest in the U.S. The fastest 200 Free Relay in the DMV was posted by Walt Whitman 1:23.39, is 15th on the list in the U.S. The time achieved by Sam Oliver, John Champe in the 500 Free earned an Automatic All American and #7 in the country as of 3/15. Aiken Do, WT Woodson is the only other male swimmer (than those mentioned above) that earned Automatic All American in more than one event, the 100 Free 44.83, (#2 DMV, #46 in the U.S. as of 3/15) and 100 Breast 55.71, (#2 DMV, #58 in the U.S. as of 3/15)

5 thoughts on “RFTW ‘Who swam it Fastest’ and All DMV 2019-2020

  • Mar 15, 2020 at 9:53 pm
    Permalink

    How accurate is the swim cloud data you used. For the 50 free it lists Ashlan Cheever as the fastest female. I fine it hard to believe that a high school female went 7 10ths of a second faster than the NCAA all-time record for women. Also Ashlan was not listed as a national record holder. Is something amiss. How accurate is the information you are basing this analysis on when you are using such distorted data?

    Reply
  • Mar 16, 2020 at 6:38 am
    Permalink

    Why is it that RFTW makes an error, it never admits it, and never changes it to be correct, and then deletes any post pointing out your errors?

    Positively Trumpian! You Must be so proud!

    Reply
  • Mar 18, 2020 at 3:22 pm
    Permalink

    RFW presented the great and thoughtful analyses on who swam it fastest! I may be a little disagree on Anna Keating position in these analyses. Anna’s name was added to the section of “notables”, when the top of that section was given to three freshmen girls with some special credits among “notables” and these 3 freshmen girls are absolutely great and deserve that.
    However, Anna Keating is absolutely exceptional among all swimmers; she is #2 in the U.S. in 100 breast. Anna’s top result is similar to Torry Huske’s top result (runner up), who is #2 in the U.S. in 100 fly (plus with National Public School Record). I am not saying that Anna should be runner up in this year (our region is very tough), but I believe that Anna must have some special consideration and special place in RFW analyses and she must be in very top in the list of “notables”. Again, she is #2 in the U.S. and very exceptional! RFW, thank you for the great job!

    Reply
    • Mar 19, 2020 at 12:14 pm
      Permalink

      Thanks for the feedback, we’re always looking out for ideas to acknowledge the accomplishments of the great athletes in the DMV! Agreed that Anna’s breaststroke swim is worthy of accolades and this was a great season for female swimmers, the Notable section was added so that we didn’t miss calling out those that were deserving. Perhaps we’ll create a separate category next season.

      Reply
      • Mar 19, 2020 at 1:15 pm
        Permalink

        Agreed with your reply. Thank you!

        Very interesting that the first team in the recent Washington Post All-met publication is very similar to your “notable” section, but you published it early! RFW scooped Washington Post publication))).

        Reply

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