Gators look good, but fall in first meet

June 17 was the first official scored meet of the newly formed Louisa Gators’ swim season when the Gators hosted Charlottesville. The 100-member team was formerly the Gordonsville Gators.
It had been a chilly, gloomy, rainy day, but that wasn’t enough to stop a swim meet. Jefferson Swim League specifies that minus thunder and lightning, as long as the bottom of the pool is visible, rain or no rain, the meet must go on. Parents of Gators Association President Laura Mawyer, was astonished at swimmers’, fans’, parents’ and volunteers’ determination despite the daylong deluge.
“In seven years of swimming, I have never seen a meet that bad!“ she said.
“In our first scored meet our kids did really, really well despite the elements.“ Coach Debra Bickley said.
According to the points earned, the Gators lost the meet to Charlottesville 675-344. But many may view the meet as a victory nonetheless. There were many time improvements from the week before-60 to be exact. And some young team members were participating in their first meet ever: Noah Pelo, Ben Perkinson, Conner Schweikart, Gwen Pelo, Audrey Allison, and Ella Barnes.
There were many first place finishes for the Gators, as well as plenty of second and third place finishes. The 15-18 girls 200-yard medley relay took first place, with a team consisting of 15-year-olds Naomi Hynes, Kaitlin Knipple, Meghan Bradberry and Chelsey Hovey. Megan Hummil won the 11-12 girls 50-yard freestyle, and Taylor Kronander took first in the 13-14 boys 50-yard freestyle. Ethan Wilkinson took both first place and a gold time in the 15-18 50-yard freestyle. In the 50-yard butterfly, Hummil again took first place, followed by a win in the 13-14 division by Kronander; and 15-18 went once again to Ethan Wilkinson. Gators six and under swimmer Craig Fields of won the 25-yard backstroke. Amya Hancock won the 25-yard backstroke for the eight and under division. Kody Lane, Corey Strickland, John Wood, and Kevin Collier took first, second, third and fourth respectively in the 13-14 50-yard backstroke. Wilkinson scored yet another first place finish in the 100-yard freestyle.
Some close second place finishes happened in many of the medley relays, and in many individual events. The second-placing nine-10 girls 200-yard medley relay team was made Maggie McCotter, Kelsey Lienhart, Kristen Lienhart, and Summer Moroch . Also taking second place were both the 11-12 boys and girls 200-medley relays of Andrew Perkinson , Jarratt Davis, Ben Lienhart, and Will Miksovic; and Michelle Ford, Lydia Hynes, Megan Hummil, and Jordann Sipe. With another second place was the medley relay boys 15-18 team of Kody Lane, Ethan Wilkinson, Matt Hummil, and Kevin Collier. Six-year-old Craig Fields took second place in the 25-yard freestyle. Kelsey Lienhart (9-10) and Kaitlin Knipple (15-18) both had second-place finishes in the 50-yard freestyle. Ben Lienhart (9-10), Kara Carter (13-14), and Meghan Bradberry (15-18) all had strong second place finishes in the 50-yard butterfly. Kara Carter (13-14) and Ethan Wilkinson (15-18) both took second place in the 50-yard backstroke, while Taylor Kronander (13-14) and Meghan Bradberry (15-18) both took second in the 50-yard breastroke. In the 100-yard freestyle, second places went to Jarratt Davis (11-12), Sarah Meadows (11-12), and John Wood (13-14).