We Are Champions of the World! Or At Least the Greater Mt. Vernon Area, Which Is Just As Good!

The Mount Vernon Park Gators won their sixth Individual Medley Invitational in the last seven years, including an on-going streak of five in row.  The Gators were passionate and dedicated in winning the trophy, lacking only a trophy shelf for their many prizes!

The continued reign of the Gators was greeted with Gator love, Gator peace, and Gator joy throughout the world (except in Ukraine, Israel/Gaza, Nigeria, Iraq, Syria, Myanmar, and the Brazilian soccer federation). Drawn by the excitement of the 13 team, 410 swimmer meet hosted at Mt. Vernon Park, neighbors came flooding out of their houses to celebrate with the winning team!  They could not rein in their joy.  Speaking of reign/rein, it did not rain Monday night, bringing joy to the Meet Manager.

(Editor's Note: Impressive display of the proper use of reign and rein, including sneaking rain in there!  Reporter: Just literally call me Mr. Language Person, figuratively speaking, of course!)

Happy Gators celebrate another season

winning the IM Invitational trophy!

Less happy with the outcome were Hollin Meadows, Mansion House, Riverside Gardens, and Waynewood. The Gators seized control of the Colonial Division in the second event, pushing past Waynewood's early double-digit lead, and never looked back.  The Gators scored 131 points, far outpacing Hollin Meadows' 72 points for second.  Mansion House finished third with 69, while Waynewood and Riverside Gardens tied for fourth (aka "last") with 59 each.

Alex, I will take "things that make you go hmmm. . ." for $1,000 please:  What team finished tied for last in the IMI despite winning Division 5 this year?  That's right -- Riverside Gardens went 5-0 in Division 5.  Meanwhile Hollin Meadows went 3-2 in Division 6, Mansion House was 3-2 in Division 7, and Waynewood was 1-4 in Division 7.  (This is me, shaking my head.)  That's why they swim the meets!

Two new Gator team records were set (scroll down for related article), and one Gator broke her own IMI record set last year.  (If you have to ask who, you haven't been paying attention!)  (See related article).

Overall event winners were Emily Makin and Cassidy Bayer.

As noted above, the 13 teams are divided into three divisions based on size.  Points are awarded to the top eight finishers per division -- 10 points for first, eight for second, six for third, and then a one point drop per place -- so eighth place scores one point.  Only three swimmers per team can score points (known as the "Waynewood rule" from back in the day when they dominated the IMI).

Along with Emily and Cassidy, Lily Palmerino placed first for the Gators in the Colonial Division.

Other point scorers for the Gators were:

• 8 points: Caroline Miller, Kenny Krogh, Juliette Fore, Cameron Morey, Jessie Bricker
• 6 points: Donovan Kovalsky, Brian McNamara, Kevin Adams-Mardi
• 5 points: James Piland, Sean Jansen, Parker Fulghum
• 4 points: Will Friedman, Taylor Makin
• 3 points: Sheridan Phalen, Cyrus Adams-Mardi, Torie Bolger
• 2 points: Matthew Makin, Grace McGee, Juliana Skopp-Cardillo, Anna Fracasso
• 1 point: Clark Bayer, Collin Sundsted, Elaina Phalen

Stat Boy sez: There were 43 MVP swimmers who had times on Monday, and an impressive 35 of them had season personal bests.  Fully 26 Gators scored points for the team, and Charlie Ruppe would have scored points had he not been the fourth Gator in the top eight of the division!

Congratulations to Coach Paul, Coach Emily, and the entire Gator team for once again winning this prestigious event!