So Good, We Wrote About It Twice

At the Fort Hunt Sportsman Relay carnival Wednesday night held at Riverside Gardens, MVP's own special pod of Alligator mississippiensis again showed that they're the fastest species in the local swampland.

Gator teams won six of the thirteen races against those from 11-rival local pools, at the annual Fort Hunt Sportsmen's fun meet.  The carnival traditionally features unorthodox team combinations including disparate mixed age, and mixed gender medleys -- think giant Gators swimming with virtual hatch-lings! And ends with a what just happened there? coaches' race.

Even a carnival can be intense ...

Those first place winners were:
200 mixed age girls -- Juliette Fore, Katya Zaitsev, Sheridan Phalen, and Elaina Phalen (one of several sibling relay partners).

100 8/under free girls -- Elizabeth Whitson, Hudson Ward, Miriam Keller, and Nora Hixon.
100 b/g 9-10/11-12 backstroke --
Mikayla Gordon, Lucas Garvey, Charles Bradburn, and Paige Humphreys.
100 b/g 9-10/11-12 free -- Delaney Adrian, Michael Ienzi, TJ Heck, and Olivia Heck.
250 g/g mixed free cresendo -- James Piland, Olivia Blondin, Cole Miller, and Parker Fulgum.

Gator coaches -- Cassidy Bayer, Kevin Adams-Mardi, Emma Jones, and Tristan Colaizzi -- were first in their heat too, though one of the opponents raced a team of apparently 8U aged "coaches!" 

One goggle in and one out, Gator Matthew Saltus really knows how to breathe!

Taking second in the six-team heats were:
100 8/under free boys -- William Milito, Jude Klopson, Sean Kovalski, and Jack Alzona.
100 8/under free boys -- Natalie Ruppe, Joseph Humphreys, Grace McGee, and Charlie Ruppe.
100 b/g 9-10/11-12 fly -- Gabby Culo, Jack Klopson, Annie Terwilliger, and Andrei Zaitsev.

Grabbing third were:
200 Mixed Age Boys -- Will Friedman, Jack Dupuis, Matthew Saltus, and Noah Hannam.
100 Boys/Girls 6/under 13/over Free -- Ella Prible, Evan Prible, Olivia Johansson, and Ian Neal.

The Gator who roared ...or yawned.