Gators Bring/Endure the Heat at Mansion House

By Special Correspondent David Ruppe

Gators young and old endured another swampy evening to post fresh times, but fewer than usual personal bests in their B meet at Mansion House Monday night.

The meet started out with the youngest swimmers, 6&Unders, some aided with kick-boards, racing the 25 free.

Kaitlyn Hermann

 A number of older swimmers did cut significant time. Jack Beardsley cut 6.71 seconds to post a 34.63 in the Boys 8&Under 25 free; Henry O'Shea 6.39 for a 53.62; and Daniel Williams 10.85 (101.24). In the Girls 8&Under 25 free, Meela Stevenson cut 10.42 (32.44); Grace Chapman 5.39 (34.26); and Vera Stevenson 9.17 (39.05). Kaitlyn Hermann in the Girls 8&Under 25 back 5.30 (40.94); and Liliana Fore in the Girls 9-10 50 Breaststroke 10.64 (1.10.34).

Liam Garvey and Gavin Moore having a laugh before their swim.

Noah Litonjua - adorable!

Personal bests seemed harder to come by for top seeded Gators, but there were a few notable exceptions. For instance, Shaan Nagda and Grant Cedoz each cut just over a second in their Boys 8&Under 25 Back race. Jack Dupuis, Lili Palmerino and Isabella VanDamme took nearly a second off their 50 Breaststroke times.

Olivia Blondin of the Girls 13-14 won both her events -- lopping .78 off her 50 Back and 1.52 off her 50 Fly. Also, Andrew Baker and TJ Heck pushed each other to cut time and place first and second in the Boys 13-14 50 Fly. 

With daylight waning, the teams cancelled the IM races.

B-Meets Matter

The Mansion House meet came at a time in the season when top-seeded swimmers strive to make coveted relay team slots, and so excitement, anxiety and sometimes disappointment was in the air.

It was the last chance for swimmers to make or lose positions on the teams, which are assigned by the coach based on swim ladder rankings. At an annual meet, the divisional "relay carnival," which occured Wednesday, two days after Mansion House), teams for each age group and gender swam an all-freestyle relay and a mixed stroke relay. Teams with the top 18 times in each event from all the divisions in the Northern Virginia Swim League are chosen to participate in the all-stars relay meet next Wednesday.

A consequence of swimming for a large team with a depth of talent is that often quite speedy swimmers who would make a relay for other other clubs might miss out some summers -- particularly if they are a young swimmer in a multi-year age group.

These are the "character-building moments" where athletes might reflect on the reasons they swim, refocus on future goals, and perhaps dedicate themselves to new levels of commitment. And hard work and future growth spurts can help shake up swim ladders each season!

Jack Klopson knew his waterproof sleeve would disqualify his time,  but wouldn't miss his chance to swim.