Gator Lightning Almost Strikes Vs. Thunderbolts

The MVP Gators fought long and hard against higher-ranked Donaldson Run, only to come up short by a 193-209 deficit.  The meet went back and forth, with the Thunderbolts hanging on for victory in the final few relays.

Josh (green) and Austin (red) celebrate

Christmas  in July for the Gators

Cassidy Bayer set a new NVSL record (see related story) in the 11-12 girls 50 meter butterfly.  She also  further lowered her team record in 50 free.  Sara Bertram broke Christine Rholl's team fly record for 15-18 girls (see related article). 

Freestylin'

The meet was tied after freestyle at 45-45.  MVP pulled ahead by a 92-88 score after winning backstroke 47-43, but then fell behind 133-137 after dropping breaststroke by 41-49.  Donaldson Run won fly by two points, so the Gators trailed 168-174.  The Thunderbolts clinched the meet by winning seven of twelve relays.

Jayne pulls away on breaststroke, capping

a five race win streak for the Gator grrls!

Gator sweeps came from the 9-10 boys in freestyle, as Sean Jansen, Nick Dupuis, and Tyler Dunn took 1-2-3.  The 9-10 boys liked the sweep so much they did it again in fly, with Cole Miller, Nick Dupuis, and Collin Sundsted broke out the brooms (figurately, not literally).  The 8 & under girls added a sweep of their own in backstroke, as Emily Makin, Olivia Blondin, and Cage Theriot  finished 1, 2, 3.

Emily does some fast flyin'

Impressive win streaks were put together by the girls by winning the first three age groups in freestyle (Julianna Skopp-Cardillo, followed by Claudia Theriot and Cassidy Bayer) and by winning five straight from 15-18 back to 13-14 breaststroke (Julia Bolger, Gabrielle Greszler, Sheridan Phalen, Holly Jansen, and Jayne Orleans).  The girls finished up in fly with three straight wins as well (Cassidy, Anna Fracasso, and Sara Bertram).

Gus goes all out

Double Gator winners were Sean Jansen (free and breaststroke), Cassidy Bayer (free and fly), and Holly Jansen (back and breaststroke).

8 & under boys relay putting up a fight:

George Pacious dives in

Solo MVP victories were posted by Collin Sundsted (back), Cameron Morey (back), Cole Miller (fly), Juliana Skopp-Cardillo (free), Claudia Theriot (free), Emily Makin (back), Julia Bolger (back), Gabrielle Greszler (breaststroke), Sheridan Phalen (breaststroke), Jayne Orleans (breaststroke), Anna Fracasso (fly), and Sara Bertram (fly).

Gators who grabbed second place were: Parker Blondin (free and breaststroke), Nick Dupuis (free and fly), Tom Dupuis (free and fly), Andrei Zaitsev (back), Noah Hannam (back), Gus Leyden (back), Glenn Campagna (breaststroke), Richard Greszler (breaststroke), Tristan Colaizzi (breaststroke), Jessie Bricker (free and fly), Emily Walzl (free), Sara Bertram (free), Olivia Blondin (back), Claudia Theriot (back), and Torie Bolger (back).

Josh, Jack, and Joe nearly can't contain their enthusiasm

Third place points were earned by: Tyler Dunn (free and back), Cameron Morey (free), Kevin Adams-Mardi (free and fly), Collin Sundsted (fly), Dom Heratsch (fly), Annie Terwilliger (free), Zoe Greszler (free), Torie Bolger (free), Maddy Bolger (free and back), Cage Theriot (back), Anna Fracasso (back), Julianna Skopp-Cardillo (breaststroke), Ripley Vaughn (breaststroke), Julia Hunger (breaststroke), Kaila Stein (breaststroke), Bea Heratsch (fly), Emily Walzl (fly), and Julia Bolger (fly).

Claudia doesn't tarry-oh in backstroke.  (See, her

last name is spelled Theriot, and pronounced

tarry-oh, so my caption is really funny if you know that.)

The Gators have dropped to 0-3 in Division 3.  On Saturday, powerhouse Vienna Woods comes to town for the final home A meet of the season.  The last week of the regular season, MVPe travelse to Crosspointe.

MVP has certainly found Division 3 to be challenging.  On the other hand, MVP swimmers have never traded Gator merchandise for tattoes (Ohio State football).  Nor did we pay $200,000 to top swimmers (Cam Newton).  The coach hasn't quit after a game over a contract dispute (Jim Riggleman).  The owners (parents?) have not locked out the swimmers (NFL and NBA).  There is no controversy over doping (Tour de France, etc.)  So, compared to many sports, we're looking pretty good.

Scandal-free Gator team in the goof around photo