Martinsville Marlins win several medals

The Martinsville Marlins won seven individual and relay medals at Championships.

Thirteen YMCA swim teams from across the region competed February 21-23, 2020, in the Piedmont YMCA Swimming Association League Championships at the Salem YMCA.  An abbreviated slate of events were held Friday night, then got into full swing Saturday and Sunday.  Over three days, there were 154 events.

The Martinsville YMCA Marlins swim team competed against teams from Salem, Danville, Eden, Alleghany Highlands, Franklin County, Botetourt, Altavista, South Boston, Bedford, Pulaski County, Southside (Farmville), and Kirk Family (Roanoke). The Marlins finished 10th in the team standings.

Two Marlin swimmers captured silver medals – Kate Jarrett (10) in the Girls 10U 500 Yard Free and Kendra Vipperman (7) in the Girls 8U 25 Yard Butterfly.  Earning bronze medals were Hunter Goad (15) in the Boys 500 Yard Free and Chandler Horsley (10) in the Boys 9-10 100 Yard IM.  Also winning bronze were the Girls 12U 200 Yard Free Relay team which included: Madeline Cooley (11), Katherine Haga (11), Myssia Hairston-France (11), and Emily Whitlow (12).

There were 335 swimmers at the event ranging in age from 4 to 18 years old.  Fourteen Marlin swimmers swam at the championship meet.  Full results are below.  Two other Marlin team members were unable to attend – Robert Knouse (9) and Devyn Scales (8).

The Marlins have been practicing since September and have competed in eight meets prior to Championships.  They were coached this season by Krissy Esget and Caitlin Lacy.

Coach Krissy Esget stated, “The Marlins had an amazing fall and winter season this year! It’s amazing to watch a group of young athletes ranging from all ages work so hard. Most of all it’s amazing to watch how much they support each other and cheer each other on in a sport that is made up of mostly individual events! They train so hard day in and day out and give it everything they have in the pool! Swimming competitively is not as easy as everyone thinks. It’s much more than jumping in the pool and going from one end to another. Swimming has so much technique and athleticism that goes into every single stroke. The dedication, discipline, and hard work these young athletes have make me very proud to be there coach. I look forward to helping them grow as athletes for years to come.”

The team will start to practice again in mid-April for the summer league.  A Bridge Program will begin March 16 for those interested in joining the team but needing to improve stroke technique and efficiency, learn proper starts and turn, and build endurance in a swim team practice type environment.   Please contact the YMCA if interested in joining either program.

FULL RESULTS
Madeline Cooley (11)
*3rd – Girls 12U 200 Yard Free Relay
32nd – Girls 11-12 100 Yard IM
22nd – Girls 11-12 50 Yard Back
32nd – Girls 11-12 50 Yard Free
28th – Girls 11-12 100 Yard Free
26th – Girls 11-12 50 Yard Breast
24th – Girls 11-12 50 Yard Fly

Chase Dillard (11)
6th Place – Mixed 200 Yard Free Relay
7th Place – Boys 11-12 100 Yard IM
5th Place – Boys 11-12 20 Yard Back
7th Place – Boys 11-12 50 Yard Free

Hunter Goad (15)
4th Place – Boys 200 Yard IM
5th Place – Boys 100 Yard Back
9th Place – Boys 50 Yard Free (Won Heat)
9th Place – Boys 100 Yard Free
9th Place – Boys 100 Yard Fly
*3rd Place – Boys 500 Yard Free

Nathan Goad (11)
6th Place – Mixed 200 Yard Relay
9th Place – Boys 11-12 100 Yard IM
8th Place Boys 11-12 100 Yard Breast
21st Place – Boys 11-12 50 Yard Free
4th Place Mixed 12U 200 Yard Medley Relay
7th Place Boys 11-12 100 Yard Free
9th Place Boys 11-12 50 Yard Breast
8th Place Boys 11-12 50 Yard Fly

Alan Haas (12)
6th Place – Mixed 200 Yard Free Relay
14th Place – Boys 11-12 100 Yard IM
12th Place Boys 11-12 50 Yard Back
22nd Place Boys 11-12 50 Yard Free

Katherine Haga (11)
*3rd Place – Girls 12U 200 Yard Free Relay
17th Place Girls 11-12 100 Yard IM
11th Place Girls 11-12 50 Yard Back
14th Place Girls 11-12 50 Yard Free (Won Heat)
4th Place Girls 12U 200 Yard Medley Relay
12th Place Girls 11-12 100 Yard Free
11th Place Girls 11-12 50 Yard Fly
6th Place Girls 11-12 500 Yard Free

Myssia Hairston-France (11)
11th Place Girls 11-12 200 Yard Free
*3rd Place Girls 12U 200 Yard Free Relay
10th Place Girls 11-12 100 Yard IM
4th Place Girls 11-12 100 Yard Breast
10th Place Girls 11-12 50 Yard Free
4th Place Mixed 12U 200 Yard Medley Relay
10th Place Girls 11-12 100 Yard Free
6th Place Girls 11-12 50 Yard Breast
9th Place Girls 11-12 50 Yard Fly

Lynzi Haynes (7)
15th Place Girls 8U 25 Yard Back
7th Place Girls 8U 50 Yard Breast
22nd Place Girls 8U 25 Yard Free (Won Heat)
17th Place Girls 8U 25 Yard Breast
9th Place Girls 8U 50 Yard Back (Won Heat)

Chandler Horsley (10)
4th Place Mixed 10U 200 Yard Medley Relay
10th Place Boys 9-10 50 Yard Back
12th Place Boys 9-10 50 Yard Free (Won Heat)
*3rd Place Boys 9-10 100 Yard IM

Kate Jarrett (10)
*2nd Place Girls 10U 500 Yard Free
4th Place Mixed 10U 200 Yard Medley Relay
4th Place Girls 9-10 50 Yard Back
4th Place Girls 50 Yard Free
7th Place Girls 9-10 100 Yard IM
5th Place Girls 9-10 100 Yard Free
6th Place Girls 9-10 100 Yard Back (Won Heat)
7th Place Girls 9-10 50 Yard Fly

Taylor Lovette (13)
11th Place Girls 100 Yard Free
6th Place Girls 100 Yard Fly
9th Place Girls 500 Yard Free

Chandler Motley (13)
21st Place Girls 100 Yard IM
6th Place Mixed 200 Yard Free Relay
17th Place Girls 100 Yard Back (Won Heat)
13th Place Girls 50 Yard Free
11th Place Girls 50 Yard Breast

Kendra Vipperman (7)
6th Place Girls 8U 100 Yard Free
4th Place Mixed 10U 200 Yard Medley Relay
7th Place Girls 8U 25 Yard Back
8th Place Girls 8U 25 Yard Free
7th Place Girls 8U 100 Yard IM
9th Place Girls 8U 50 Yard Free
11th Place Girls 8U 25 Yard Breast
*2nd Place Girls 8U 25 Yard Fly

Emily Whitlow (12)
*3rd Place Girls 12U 200 Yard Free Relay
18th Place Girls 11-12 100 Yard IM
17th Place 50 Yard Back
18th Place Girls 11-12 50 Yard Free
4th Place Mixed 12U 200 Yard Medley Relay
23rd Girls 11-12 100 Yard Free
13th Place Girls 11-12 50 Yard Breast
12th Place Girls 11-12 50 Yard Fly