This scene is more reminiscent of Rocky III --
with its classic theme song: "Eye of the Gator!"
Now, The Northern Virginia Swimming League Has The Greatest Comeback Of All A Swim Meets When Mount Vernon Park Beat Little Rocky Run, (or TNVSLHTGCOAASMWMVPBLRR for short). Yes, to win 215-205 in TNVSLHTGCOAASMWMVPBLRR is impressive enough, but the way the Gators did it was nothing short of improbable.
Here, Torie and Anna honor "Hands
Across America" from 1986.
(Editor's note: Actually, it was short of improbable, because it actually happened. Reporter: This whole semantics game you play where words are supposed to be properly used gets annoying at times!)
One half of the quartet, probably
hitting three quarter notes.
(Editor's note: Also, we have no idea whether this was the great comeback win in NVSL history -- given the thousands of A meets over the 59 years of the league, it is likely that there has been a greater comeback. Reporter: It's called "writing for effect!" Drama, baby, drama!)
Close Race!
Next week, next year, five years from now, but probably not 20 years from now, Gator parents will see the team down early, and say to each other -- Parent One: "Hey, if any team can do it, the MVP Gators can come back and win this meet. Remember TNVSLHTGCOAASMWMVPBLRR?" Parent Two: "How could I forget TNVSLHTGCOAASMWMVPBLRR? It was like when USA hockey beat the Soviets in 1980, except without the Cold War background, the sold-out arena, or the international TV viewing audience. Yup, that TNVSLHTGCOAASMWMVPBLRR was the day!"
Charlie meditates upon his swim.
The win propels the Gators to a 1-2 record, tied for a distant second place with Little Rocky Run and Lee-Graham. Only Donaldson Run or Vienna Woods, the teams that beat the Gators in weeks one and two, can win the division.
This Gator is showing Grace under pressure.
But enough of that. Back to TNVSLHTGCOAASMWMVPBLRR! The Gators were losing 41-67 after just twelve events, and the morning looked bleak despite being possibly the most amazing weather ever for a Saturday in July in the DMV. Stat Boy had prescored the meet, and it looked like the Gators would win freestyle easily, but then lose everything else. Stat Boy miscalculated as badly as Hitler when he attacked the Soviet Union while Britain was unconquered.
Andrew takes the Nestea Plunge
(Editor: Wait. You are actually going there? You are comparing Stat Boy to Hitler now? Reporter: Eh, I never liked either of them.)
Here's a name from the past! But how does
a guy with the last name Passacantando
struggle so much when pronouncing it!
Then, the Gators started their comeback. Slowly, valiantly. While they still lost backstroke 42-48, the deficit was cut in events 13 through 20 by ten points. Breaststroke started grimly, as the team slipped back to a 26 point deficit. So, after 24 events (46% of the meet), the team trailed by 26 points. However, MVP fought back like Rocky (except in the first movie and last movie. . .spoiler alert: he lost!) to win breaststroke 53-37 -- meaning they tied the meet from a 26 point deficit in just six events.
Caroline nailed her breaststroke.
The Gators then put it into overdrive, winning butterfly 55-35 for a 190-170 lead going into relays. MVP had to win five relays to win the meet. When they lost three of the first four, things got a little dicey, but order was restored when the girls won their last four relays to hold off the marauding Stingrays. The girls mixed age relay lined up with just a five point lead, but their comfortable 6.10 second win clinched the victory.
Makin waves (yeah, like that's an original caption!)
The meet started with a stunningly good rendition of the National Anthem by the Gator String Quartet of Parker Fulghum, Elaina Phalen, Sheridan Phalen, and Carl Questad. Since they all swam well, Coach Paul Makin plans to require all Gator swimmers to take up stringed instruments this week. (Note to parents: It's a joke -- you do not have to now purchase string instruments tomorrow and schedule private lessons. If you don't like the joke, it was gifted to me by John Passacantando, so blame him. If you like it, well, I wrote it better than he told it, so thank me!)
Carl's on a quest.
The Gators had three sweeps -- all from the 15-18 girls (see related article). First, Anna Fracasso, Torie Bolger, and Molly Cabral went 1-2-3 in the 50 backstroke. Ten events later, Cassidy Bayer (swimming up), Sarah Jones, and Torie Bolger went 1-2-3 in the 50 breaststroke. Finally, they capped the final event of the meet with a 1-2-3 finish in the 50 fly by Jessie Bricker, Jessica Metter, and Emily Walzl. Both Molly "Molly Cabs" Cabral and Emily Walzl were great pinch-hitting Gators. They both filled in admirably for Sara Bertram, who was felled Saturday by an injury and had to be scratched. When the substitution swimmers are getting points, that's a good sign of depth for the team.
First place looks like Parker. Twice.
Gator heroes were Monica Morales, who made her first A meet as a six year old, Clark Bayer, who swam 13-14 backstroke as an 11 year old, Noah Hannam, who swam 15-18 back as a 14 year old, and Cassidy Bayer who won 15-18 breaststroke as a 14 year old.
Uncle Sam has nothing on Uncle Austin.
The Races of the Week: Lily Penn won the girls 11-12 50 breaststroke by 0.14 seconds over her Stingray opponent. For the boys, Kenny Krogh had the closest margin of victory beating his LRR opponent in the 9-10 boys backstroke by 0.29 seconds.
Abby shifts in overdrive.
There were four Gator double winners -- Parker Fulghum (back and breaststroke), Cassidy Bayer (breaststroke and fly), Emily Makin (free and fly), and Jessie Bricker (free and fly).
Cyrus flying home.
Single Gator winners were Elaina Phalen (free), Kenny Krogh (back), Olivia Blondin (back), Anna Fracasso (back), Brian McNamara (breaststroke), Lily Penn (breaststroke), Kevin Adams-Mardi (breaststroke), Matthew Makin (butterfly), Caroline Miller (butterfly), and Cameron Morey (butterfly).
Lily and Katya are locked in on their relay. Gator focus!
Last week, Gators won 23 individual events and lost the meet. This week, they only won 18 individual events and won the meet. This type of statistical abnormality is why I stopped betting on NVSL meets five years ago. Somewhere in Little Rocky Run, a blogger is writing about winning 22 events and seven relays and yet still losing the meet. (Bet they aren't as amusing as I think I am!).
Ellie exults for the relay win!
Really, truly, very important second place points were earned by Caroline Miller (free), James Piland (free), Sheridan Phalen (free and fly), Collin Sundsted (free), Emma Jones (free and fly), Kevin Adams-Mardi (free), Andrei Zaitsev (back), Cameron Morey (back), Cyrus Adams-Mardi (back), Torie Bolger (back), Alexander North (breaststroke), Caroline Baker (breaststroke), Colby Webber (breaststroke), Juliette Fore (breaststroke), Parker Blondin (breaststroke), Sean Jansen (breaststroke), Elaina Phalen (breaststroke), Sarah Jones (breaststroke), Lily Palmerino (fly), Charlie Ruppe (fly), Grace McGee (fly), Brian McNamara (fly), and Jessica Metter (fly). So, the Gators took 25 out of 40 individual second places, outscoring Little Rocky Run 75 to 45 in points -- a 30 point win in a meet MVP won by ten points.
Either this is a cool photographic timing, or
Andrei is drooling. Definitely a cool photo timing.
Sheridan? More like Sheri-can!
It's a busy week for the Gators, as there is the Monday night Developmental Meet at Mansion House. Weather reports do not include rain, but since it Mansion House, expect a monsoon. Wednesday is the Divisional Relay Carnival at Lee-Graham, while Oakton travels to MVP on Saturday for the A meet. Saturday is also picture day -- so all Gator swimmers should be there -- see Jim/Tonda's emails for details.
#Winning
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