Swimming Around the DMV 12/1-12/5
By Reach for the Wall Staff
Lead photo screencap from US Open 400 Free courtesy USA Swimming (Gemmell & Ledecky)
This is a crazy busy week/ weekend for swimming in the DMV. There are opportunities to compete at every age and competitive level from mini meets up to the US Open! PVS teams are hosting 3 invitational meets, providing kids opportunities for events over several days and for 2 of the meets there are trials and finals sessions. Each of the meets has a ‘live stream’ link and can be followed via Meet Mobile. The listings on Meet Mobile are: 2021 Reindeer Mini Meet; Christmas Champs; 2021 PV Turkey Claus Showdown; Potomac Marlins Winter Classic; and 2021 Toyota US Open Championship.
The US Open started Wednesday with the 800 Freestyle and Katie Ledecky (now a Florida Gator), winning in 8:12.81. Thursday’s Finals events were the 400 Freestyle, 200IM, and 50 Freestyle. PVS swimmers Erin Gemmell (NCAP) , Eleanor Sun (NCAP), Camille Spink (NCAP), Sophie Duncan (NCAP), Maren Conze (NCAP), Jordan Durocher (NCAP), Tatum Wall (NCAP), Ali Tylerand (GMU), and Matthew Namakonov (AAC) all competed in the Finals Thursday night. The results as follows:
400 Free:
- Erin Gemmell: 2nd, 4:10.12
- Maren Conze: 23rd, 4:24.04
200 IM:
- Sophie Duncan: 4th, 2:16.54
- Camille Spink: 7th, 2:17.07
- Eleanor Sun: 11th, 2:18.22
- Jordan Durocher: 18th, 2:19.77
50 Free:
- Camille Spink: 3rd, 25.36
- Tatum Wall: 8th, 26.05
- Ali Tyler: 15th, 26.39
- Matthew Namakonov 18th, 23.65
While many of the private schools are three weeks into their dual meet seasons in the ISL, WMPSSDL, and WCAC, the public high school teams in Montgomery County, MD and Northern VA will kick off their seasons starting tonight Friday December 3.
Northern VA:
Most schools start their dual meets tonight (scheduled for 6pm), while others will start tomorrow, with some exciting matchups:
Yorktown Girls begin their defense of their 2021 State Championship with a dual meet against Meridian (formerly George Mason).
Woodson Boys & Girls start their quest for the State title (Boys 2021 2nd place, Girls 4th) against perennial powerhouse, Robinson
Here we go! First meet of the season! https://t.co/mHDeoKFlxC
— Woodson Swim & Dive (@WTWSwimDive) December 3, 2021
James Madison, (Girls who finished 3rd in the State meet in 2021) will kick off the season against Chantilly
Battlefield finished 2nd in the State meet in 2021 will start their season Saturday against Gainesville
Thomas Jefferson Boys took the Class 5 State title in 2021 and are back in the pool tonight (Girls too!) against Mt. Vernon
Riverside Boys & Girls will face Stone Bridge as they start their season tomorrow afternoon
Montgomery County High Schools:
Meets will begin this Saturday as they kick off with their ‘scrimmage’ meets. These meets don’t count toward the division standings, rather they are used as a tune up for the season. The B-CC girls are defending 2020 4A/3A champs narrowly defeating Walter Johnson. This meet may be a preview of their late January showdown as well as the ‘gauntlet’ of championship style meets they will face each other in February leading up to the State meet. Whitman and Poolesville will be a ‘champions’ meet as well with Poolesville as the defending 2020 3A/2A/1A State champs (Boys & Girls), while Whitman is the defending 4A/3A Boys Champion.
Good luck to everyone competing this weekend!!!