All Six Teams Stayed Close in Division Relay Carnival, Gators Break Three Records

Division 2 is intense.   I continue to remind myself that there are 102 teams competing in 17 divisions in the NVSL, one of the most competitive swim leagues in the United States, and MVP is swimming ahead of 90 of those teams with only six teams swimming one division better – in the #1 division.  Just to say we are swimming in Division 2 is a testament to how far we’ve come; especially considering that a decade ago we were regulars in Division 6.   But when you are new to a division with such a high caliber of talent there is no easy road to the top.  The competition we face week in and week out was perfectly highlighted on Wednesday night at Division Relay Carnival which took place at Hamlet.  The 22 event meet showcases the freestyle and medley relay teams of all six Division 2 teams.  The Gators captured 144 points throughout the night to finish 5^th overall.  But that’s only part of the story.  The more promising note is that the final scores remained tight, with no blow-outs occurring.  Hunt Valley won the relays with a score of 186.  Hamlet and Little Rocky Run finished 2^nd and 3^rd, and not far behind Hunt Valley, with scores of 182 and 174.  Hunter Mill finished 4^th with a score of 154 followed closely by our mighty Gators.  Donaldson Run, our A meet opponent this week, finished in 6^th place with a score of 124. 

As is tradition, the night threatened storms.  Past team rep, Glen Bolger, shared with me that the only sure fire way to end a drought in the DC area is for the NVSL to hold divisional relays.  BUT, not this evening.  While black clouds loomed overhead at times, the night was pleasant, the setting nicely shaded, and the meet went off smoothly.  The perfect night for Gator relay teams to post excellent times.  Highlights of the evening were three MVP records being broken, taking first place in the very first event (girls 18 & under 200 free relay), seven 2^nd place finishes, and one 3^rd place finish.

Relay crew celebrating at Primos!

MVP’s first record fell in event 2, boys 18 & under 200 meter free relay.  Kenneth Krogh (12), Donovan Kovalsky (10), Clark Bayer (13), and Kevin Adams-Mardi (18) beat a two year old previous record of 1:57.56 with a record time of 1:57.42.  Want to see how competitive this division is?  Our record breaking team came in 5^th, behind two other teams that broke records.  These D2 boys are fast! 

Fast forward to the end of the meet – the last two events as a matter of fact – and you get the other two record breaking races of the night.  Jessie Bricker (17), Parker Fulghum (16), Zoe Greszler (15), and Cassidy Bayer (16) broke the girls 15-18 200 meter free relay with a record time of 1:56.37.  The previous record was also set two years ago at 1:57.06.  Not to be outdone by the girls, the boys 15-18 200 meter free relay team of Kevin Adams-Mardi (18), Cole Miller (15), Sean Jansen (15), and Tristan Colaizzi (18) capped off the night with a record setting time of 1:45.37 beating the previous record of 1:45.53 set WAY BACK in July 1993.

First place winners were the girls 18 & under 200 free – Emily Makin, Katya Zaitsev, Sheridan Phalen, and Cassidy Bayer

Second place finishers:

• Girls 9-10 100 medley – Lily Palmerino, Abigail Litonjun, Caroline Miller, and Katya Zaitsev
• Girls 13-14 200 medley – Abby Dittman, Taylor Makin, Garbrielle Greszler, and Sheridan Phalen
• Girls 15-18 200 medley – Parker Fulghum, Sarah Jones, Cassidy Bayer, and Jessie Bricker
• Boys 9-10 100 free – Jack Dupuis, Tyler Swartz, Alexander North, and Donovan Kovalsky
• Girls 13-14 200 free – Juliana Skopp-Cardillo, Gabrielle Greszler, Taylor Makin, and Sheridan Phalen
• Boys 13-14 200 free – Nicholas Dupuis, Brian McNamara, Andrew Baker, and Clark Bayer
• Girls 15-18 200 free – Jessie Bricker, Parker Fulghum, Zoe Greszler, and Cassidy Bayer

Third place went to the boys 9-10 100 medley – Matthew Makin, Jack Dupuis, Tyler Swartz, and Donovan Kovalsky