Gators Storm Past Tsunami (?)

by David Ruppe 

Gator Nation witnessed a tsunami of weather and good swimming at our Monday night meet against local rival Riverside Gardens.

Actually, the rain was hardly bad, a light shower as darkness settled in during the fly and IM events; but I was striving for a clever lead -- something to keep up the pizzazz to which we've all become accustomed as our beloved long-time master blogger and brutally exacting editor Glen transitions to RSP (retired-swim-parent) status.

Also, there was some debate among the swimmers about who actually won the B-meet, in which team scores are not tallied.

Among the most impressive Gator swims of the night certainly was Vera Stevenson's 24.27 time cut in the 8U Girls 25 backstroke event, bringing her personal best to 36.49.  Elizabeth Delaune, in the same event, notably lowered her top time by 6.08 to 33.29. Joe Humphreys in a ferocious swim bested his best by 3.68 to win the 9-10 Boys IM race. And 12-year-old A-meet ace Andrew Baker chopped time in all his events -- including his IM time by 2.18 to claim the top spot in his highly competitive age group.

Doesn't seem to matter who won.

Notable time cuts were also made by: Maxwell Kelch (6.95, 8U Boys 25 Free), Anthony Babin (13.42, 8U Boys 25 Free), Dakota Edwards (11.00, 8U Girls 25 Free), Heidi Schulte (7.59, 8U Girls 25 Free), Sean Leslie (6.17, 8U Boys 25 Back), Karly Whitehead (8.65, 8U Girls 25 Back), Lilian Babin (7.29, 9-10 Girls 50 Back), Fiona French (6.77, 9-10 Girls 50 Breaststroke), Natalie Ruppe (8.41, 9-10 Girls Breaststroke).

If you don't feed your gators regularly...

Monday's race winners per event were:

Freestyle

Matthew Makin, Alexander North, Gavin Moore, Sam Bruce, Liam Fore, Alexander Rudolph, Samantha Cowen, Miriam Keller, Andrea Morales, Josie Cowen, Ella Prible, Heidi Schulte, Jack Dupuis, Isabella Van Damme, Elizabeth Moorman, Clark Bayer, Will Friedman, JD Foutch, Abigail Dittman, Rose Doerner, Taylor Makin, Bea Heratsch, Cassidy Bayer, and Molly Cabral.

A Gator game face.

Backstroke
Alexander North, Grayson Normand, Elizabeth Whitson, Kiersten Gordon, Elizabeth Delaune, Josie Cowen, Kaden Lyle, Joseph Humphreys, Lily Palmerino, TJ Heck, Cassidy Bayer, and Molly Cabral.


Caroline Baker has good humor and focus.

Breaststroke
William Milito, Samantha Cowen, Nora Hixson, Jill Humphreys, James Piland, Mikayla Gordon, Andrew Baker, Charlie Ruppe, JD Foutch, Olivia Heck, Rose Doerner, Cole Snodgrass, and Elaina Phalen.

Brian McNamara is aerodynamically streamlined.

Fly

Jackson Foerster, Samantha Cowen, Abigail Litonjua, Joseph Humphreys, Caroline Baker, Gabrielle Greszler, Grace McGee, Sheridan Phalen, Parker Fulghum, and Emily Walzl.

IM

Joseph Humphreys, Andrew Baker, Gabrelle Greszler, Olivia Heck, Abby Adams, Lily Penn, Carl Questad, and Jessie Bricker.

The Gators' 1st Place (tied) Divisional Relays trophy was placed in the new team case.

The Gator Way

At least once a season, this blogger is witness to some surprising, touching act of kindness amongst the Gator swimmers.  About a week ago, I saw a super-fast girl gator seemingly out of the blue console a boy Gator who had not made the Divisional Relays noting the times she hadn't made the relays. Such gracious acts are among our finest Gator traditions and undoubtedly perpetuating.

Gators Helping Gators