Big Win at Little Hunting Park - Gators Take 7th Straight IM Invitational!

We are the champions of the world!  And by world I mean we are champions of the "individual medley (IM) in our nook of the NVSL" world.  14 teams competed this year for the coveted IM Invitational trophy and the Gators won it all!  Our combined team score was 73, with our closest competitor being a tie between Hollin Meadows and Highland Park with a score of 52 each.

All smiles

MVP competes for three trophies each year (Division Relay Carnival, Division Title, and IM Invitational) and our success is different every year.  This year the first two eluded us, mainly due to our move to the super competitive 2nd Division.  But we have bragging rights to the IM Invitational for the 7th year in a row.  This is the Gator's 8th IM Invitational victory in the last nine years.

The 14 teams are divided into three divisions: Colonial (where we reside), Minuteman, and Patriot, based on size, so that all teams have an opportunity to win their division.  MVP took the Colonial division with 108 points, with Waynewood (77), Hollin Meadows (75), Riverside Gardens (71), and Mansion House (59) coming in 2nd through 5th.  The Minuteman Division was won by Highland Park and Virginia Hills finished atop the Patriot Division.

Quick tutorial on the awarding of points.  The top eight finishers per division receive points - 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.

Sam Bruce's goal lies straight ahead.

End of race handshakes are important to the Gators

MVP didn't really get going until the 5th event - boys 11-12 100 IM - but when the Gator engines ramped up, there was nothing stopping us.  Gator boys took 11 points in that event and the 11-12 Gator girls took 16 points (our most significant event from a point perspective).  

Interesting factoid shared by amazing reporter/blogger, David Ruppe.  David let me in on this cool info - this year Coach Laurel Greszler has coached all five boys that finished at the top of that age bracket - Matthew Morris (NCAP, swims at Waynewood), Brian Buchanan (NCAP, swims at Riverside Gardens), Aidan Petrerich (summer mornings, swims at Hollin Meadows), Kenneth Krogh (one of our Gators), and Charles Bradburn (one of our Gators).  Way to go Coach Laurel!

With Coach Laurel's race in a Phalen cap, the Phalens believe that they now have scored a sweep of Greszlers swimming as a Phalen!!!

Boys 13-14 took 6 points, girls 13-14 grabbed 14 points, boys 15-18 secured 8 points, and girls 15-18 finished with 12 points.

Emily Makin and Cassidy Bayer repeated their 2015 success at IM Invitationals with overall event wins.

Full steam ahead!

Cameron Morey's heading home.

Elaina Phalen making it rain

 Here's how the Gators scored:

8 points were scored by: Sheridan Phalen (14) and Kevin Adams-Mardi (18)
6 points were scored by: Juliette Fore (12) and Taylor Makin (14)
5 points were scored by: Kenneth Krogh (12) and Brian McNamara (14), 
4 points were scored by: Charles Bradburn (12)
3 points were scored by: Ginny Grubbs (8)
2 points were scored by:  Gavin Moore (8), James Piland (11), and Jessie Bricker (18)
1 point was scored by: Tyler Swartz (9) andn TJ Heck (13)

Congratulations to Coach Paul, Coach Laurel, and the entire Gator team for a great performance at this year's event!