Sussex Family YMCA wins Delmarva Swim Association Championship

Twenty-two teams took to the Sussex Academy Aquatic Center pool July 26 for the Alan Nelson Delmarva Swim Association Championship. When the ripples settled, the Sussex Family YMCA Tsunami club had taken the trophy back to Rehoboth Beach. 

Stand-out performers from local teams SFY, Ocean Pines, Lewes Yacht Club, Mako Swim Club, Rehoboth County Club and Sea Colony all had great performances throughout the meet. Ocean Pines jumped out to an early lead, and were just 20 points ahead of the Sussex Tsunami squad after the morning session – 11-12, 13-14 and 15-18 year old age groups. The battle continued throughout the afternoon session (9-10 and 8U age groups) and ended with SFY on top, winning by 105 points.

Winning seven out of 20 relays helped give SFY a huge boost. Greyson Mariner won the 50 breast, 50 free and 100 individual medley in the boys’ 11-12 division, and Brady Schell took first in 50 fly, 50 back and 50 free in the 15-18 age group. They each won all three of their individual events. SFY swimmers also winning individual championships were Michael Gulay in the 25 fly and 25 free in the boys’ 8U division, Ashton Mariner in the 25 back and 100 IM girls’ 9-10 age group, Anna Kirby in the 50 back in the 15-18 girls’ division, Mia Jaoude in the girls’ 15-18 50 free, McKenna Lunden in the girls’ 8U 25 breast and Victor Zhou in the 25 breast boys’ 9-10 division.

SFY swimmers Victoria Evans, Gretchen Maughan, Mia Jaoude and Anna Kirby teamed up to win the 15-18 200 medley relay, breaking the league record with a time of 1:50.68.

For the Mako club, Kensi Hawk won the girls’ 11-12 50 butterfly and 100 individual medley, Leah Akers won the girls’ 13-14 50 butterfly and 50 backstroke, Tenley Hazzard won the girls’ 11-12 50 backstroke, Cale Argo won the boys’ 11-12 50 backstroke, Ethan Schirmer won the boys’ 13-14 50 backstroke, Payton Garnsey won the girls’ 13-14 50 breaststroke, 50 freestyle and 100 individual medley; Jaxen Edwards won the boys’ 13-14 50 breaststroke, 50 freestyle and 100 individual medley; Trent Thornton won the boys’ 8U 25 butterfly, the 25 backstroke and 25 freestyle. Mako won the girls’ 13-14 200 freestyle relay, boys’ 13-14 200 freestyle relay, girls’ 11-12 200 medley relay, girls 13-14 medley relay and the boys’ 13-14 200 medley relay.

For Lewes Yacht Club, Lincoln Fyock won the boys’ 11-12 50 backstroke, Braxton Handley won the boys’ 11-12 50 backstroke, Jude Damouni won the boys’ 15-18 100 individual medley and Maxwell Bradshaw won the 9-10 100 IM. In relays, LYC won the girls’ 9-10 100 freestyle

For Rehoboth Beach Country Club, Kendall Rhodes won the girls 13-14 50 backstroke, 50 freestyle and 100 individual medley. Ainsley Rhodes won the girls’ 9-10 25 breaststroke.  In the relays, RBCC won the girls’ 9-10 100 freestyle, girls’ 9-10 100 medley relay.

Along with winning the overall championship, SFY squeaked out the win in the Large Team Division with 1,563 pts. Ocean Pines finished second with 1,458, followed by Lewes Yacht Club with 1,050.5, Sea Colony with 1,005, Henson Family YMCA with 885.50 and Talbot Swim Club with 861). Another local team, Mako Swim Club, finished first in the Medium Team Division with 1,247 points. Rehoboth Country Club had a strong showing in the Small Team Division, finishing in fourth place with 251 points.

SFY also won the age group high-point award in 11-12 girls and 15-18 boys. Lewes Yacht Club won the high-point award in 9-10 girls, and 9-10 boys. Mako Swim Club won the high-point award in 13-14 boys. 

This is the first solo DSA Championship for the Sussex Family YMCA. Last season, a merger between SFY and Lewes Yacht Club brought about another championship.