It's Not Easy Being Green -- White Team Wins Green & White Meet

by Grantland Rice
Special Monday night meet correspondent

Noted swimmer Kermit the Frog once crooned that "it's not easy being green."  As a person of Irish descent, I always bristled at that song, but I have to admit after Monday night, the little furry Muppet nailed it.

Powered by the modified scoring system that gives points for best times and first swims, White won 88-81, which, for fans of the White team, provided enough balm to take the sting out of the next day loss by the USA national men's team in the World Cup to Belgium.  Unlike soccer, a loss is not a win (see USA-Germany 2014) in swimming (see any Michael Phelps race).

What's ironic about all of this is that the Belgians are nicknamed the "Red Devils," which is not as controversial as the "Redskins," and much more successful too.  Meanwhile, the name of the "White" team has yet to spark protests, but that's expected next season.

And while we are on the subject of the Muppets (sort of), Jim Henson, the creator of the Muppets, went to University of Maryland (second best alum behind Gary Williams).  Maryland has moved to the Big Ten, which makes as much sense as the MVP Gators moving to the Montgomery County Swim League (for those readers skimming this, MVP is NOT moving to the MCSL, so chill before emailing the team reps to complain!)

(Editor's note: So far you have wandered aimlessly through the Muppets, the World Cup, the Redskins name controversy, some made-up protest that no one cares about, and the incongruity of Maryland moving to the Big Ten.  Are you going to write about swimming anytime soon?  Reporter's note: Oh, that's what this is supposed to be about?  It helps to know my motivation for this scene.)

Anyhow, based on the scoring system created by some stat geek with far too much time on Glen's his hands, White got 48 points on first swim points and 40 fastest swim points, while Green earned 39 first swim points and 42 fastest swim  points.  (Reporter's note: If you don't like colors for the team names, please don't ever play the boardgame "Clue."  You will fly into a political correct rage.)

Both teams started out the meet with a win simply by listening respectfully to the wonderfully-sung rendition of our National Anthem by young Andrew Sabo, who did a fabulous job.

Top point scorers for the White team were Charlie Bruce, Liam Fore, Eddie Muir, George Schulte, Tyler Swartz, and Kaitlyn Whalen with three points each.  Jack Klopson was the only three point scorer for the Green team.

Scoring two points for the White team were Amelia Adams, Mia Colaizzi, Catherine Delaune, Samantha Cowen, Christopher Delaune, Audrey Dittman, Anna Fracasso, Mikayla Gordon, Nora Hixson, Joseph Ienzi, Giovanni Marcuccio, Brian McNamara, Cecilia Morales, Sam Starr, Isabella Van Damme, Elizabeth Whitson, and Nicole Zajac.

Scoring two points for the Green team were Abby Adams, Jack Alzona, Emily Atkinson, Nicole Booth, Ethan Brunton, Josephine Cowen, Ellie Cullo, Elizabeth Delaune, Maura Finn, Liliana Fore, Fiona French, John French, Liam Garvey, Jessica Metter, Caroline Miller, Gavin Moore, Leah Myers, Zoe North, Sheridan Phalen, Carl Questad, Andrew Sabo, Heidi Schulte, and Lucy Waid.

(Nice to have Liliana Fore back swimming just a couple weeks after her heart surgery.  Next time this grumpy old editor complains about his knee, tell him to suck it up and be as tough as an 8 year old Gator!)

Heat winners for freestyle -- who did not automatically earn points but did collect snazzy first place ribbons -- were Donovan Kovalsky, Alexander North, Gavin Moore, Liam Garvey, Jude Klopson, Lily Palmerino, Samantha Cowen, Mikayla Gordon, Cassidy Crowther, Charlotte Fischer, Monica Morales, James Piland, Will Friedman, Keano Swalm, Lucas Garvey, Emily Makin, Cecilia Morales, Ainsley Koelsch, Brian McNamara, Sheridan Phalen, Nicole Booth, Tyler Dunn, Parker Fulghum, Griffin Colaizzi, Sara Bertram, Jessie Bricker, and Molly Cabral.

Heat winners for backstroke were George Schulte, Christopher Delaune, William Milito, Lily Palmerino, Nora Hixson, Monica Morales, Samantha Cowen, Colby Webber, Michael Ienzi, Juliette Fore, T.J. Heck, Olivia Blondin, Carl Questad, Maddie Finn, and Maura Finn.

Heat winners for breaststroke were Alexander North, Caroline Baker, Kenneth Krogh, Jack Klopson, Juliette Fore, Isabella Van Damme, Brian McNamara, Julianna Skopp-Cardillo, Nicole Booth, Carl Questad, Parker Fulghum, Ian Baker, and Sarah Jones.

Heat winners for fly were Donovan Kovalsky, Tyler Swartz, Lily Palmerino, Charlie Ruppe, Ellie Cullo, Parker Blondin, Cameron Morey, Emma Jones, and Sara Bertram.

Finally, heat winners for IM were Kenneth Krogh, Juliette Fore, Brian McNamara, Taylor Makin, Greta Hannam, Cameron Morey, Cassidy Bayer, Kevin Adams-Mardi, and Jessie Bricker.

(Serious editor's note: Any typos can be corrected -- it's a blog!  So, before you rail against the injustice of the universe or the stupidity of this reporter for misspelling your kid's name in a link you want to send to the rightfully proud grandparents, just email this blog's editor at glen@pos.org and he will be happy to correct the typo posthaste.)

Next Monday the Gators swim at Mansion House, home of the Piranhas.  Storms are not predicted, but since it is the Mansion House meet, they are likely.  Thanks to Susan Neal for the points tally for the Green & White meet -- her meticulous work made our jobs here at the blog much easier!