While only one YMCA National record fell on night two of the 2017 short course YMCA National Championships, there were several close calls.
Bath Area started the night with a national title in the 200 freestyle relay, holding onto their top seed swum in last night’s prelims. Caitlin Tycz surged forward at the end to touch in 1:32.85 behind teammates Ann Tolan, Ella Martin, and Olivia Harper.
After being under National Record pace through the halfway mark, Westport/Weston’s Sarah Grinalds, Katie Thornton, Willow Woods, and Simon Visinski settled for second in 1:33.22. Triangle Area’s Maria Baric, Sam Medlin, Brooke Morgan, and Jordan Kohut took third with a 1:33.29.
Tycz returned to defend her 100 butterfly National Title, touching first in 52.76. The USC commit was just off her own National Record of 52.43. Blue Ash’s Megan Glass was second (53.51) and Jessi Snover of Spartanburg finished third (53.65).
Sarasota’s Kenan Dols, Austin Katz, Brendan Firlie, and Matt Nutter posted a 1:23.48 to win the men’s 200 freestyle relay. Sean Foster, Victor Vollbrechthausen, Jack Alexy, and Ryan Carkhuff took second for Somerset Hills with a 1:23.79. Almost a second back was Red Bank’s Max Walther, Matthew Chang, Joey Huber, and Christopher Smith.
In the next event Sarasota’s Katz dominated the 200 backstroke. The soon to be Texas Longhorn touched in 1:41.74, just shy of his own National mark of 1:41.48. His teammate Keanan Dols edged Wilton’s Jake Kealy 1:45.25 to 1:45.39 for runner up honors.
York’s Courtney Harnish won two events in as many days as she hung on to claim the 200 backstroke. The Georgia commit was out quick and ultimately touched in 1:54.40. Long course champion and Indiana commit Camryn Forbes was second for Butler (1:54.83). Just a tenth behind her was Phoenixville’s Emma Seiberlich (1:54.96).
In a session with A finals dominated by high school seniors, fifteen year old Brendan Burns won the 100 butterfly. Burns, of Upper Main Line, went a 47.62. His teammate Brian McKenrick finished third (48.65). Three tenths behind Burns was Soundview’s Corey Gambardella (47.93) in second.
Brooke Perrotta of Cheshire powered home to win the 200 breaststroke in 2:12.50. Taking second was Sammie Eyolfson of Boise (2:13.35). Despite leading with only a 50 to go, Somerset Balley’s Megan Bull placed third (2:14.12).
Maxwell McHugh maintained his top seed, though fell short of his own National Record in the 200 breaststroke. The Door County swimmer stopped the clock in 1:56.51. Countryside’s Grant House was second in 1:58.24, just ahead of Paul DeLakis of Eau Claire in 1:58.56.
The final of the women’s 400 medley relay saw two disqualifications. Cheshire’s team of Alexandra Tyler, Perrotta, Mia Leko, and Elizabeth Boyer touched first in 3:43.18, just .02 ahead of Spartanburg’s Madeline Reilly, Sydney Baker, Maegan Rudolph, and Jessi Snover. Fanwood Scotch Plains’ Darlene Fung, Rachel Maizes, Monika Burzynski, and Marlise Moesch finished third (3:45.16).
Katz returned to the top of the podium again, this time swimming the lead off for Sarasota’s National Record setting relay. Katz, Brett Riley, Dols, and Nutter combined for a 3:17.93, faster than the 3:18.14 set by Somerset Valley in 2013.
Somerset Valley’s 2017 squad of Michael Macchia, Brandon Evers, Riley Pestorius, and Ryan Waters were second in 3:19.87. Birmingham’s Oliver Cafferty, Luca Kokubo, Alex Margherio, and Ryan Lawrence rounded out the top three in 3:21.64.
At the end of night two York leads the women’s scores while Sarasota tops the men.
Women:
- York 113
- Boise 103
- Greater Spartanburg 100
- Cheshire 93
- Fanwood Scotch Plains 78
- Bath Area 74
- Red Bank Branch 52
- Lakeland Hills 51
Men
- Sarasota 172
- Upper Main Line 101
- Wilton 84
- Birmingham 77
- Somerset Hills 67
- Countryside 66
- Somerset Valley 61
- Red Bank 60
Evy Case