Titan swimmers rule at Cheektowaga long-course meet

Jennifer Raimondi, far left, Jackie English, Chris Dressel, Stephanie King and Tim Bennett are Town of Tonawanda Titan Swim Club coaches who competed in the coaches' relay at the Cheektowaga Stingray swim meet last weekend.

The Town of Tonawanda Titans Swim Club sent 44 athletes to compete in the Stingrays Swim Club 2007 summer long-course open meet held from July 13 to 15 at Cheektowaga Town Park.

The meet mixed serious work with fun, especially for younger swimmers. Random heats had "bell ringers" where swimmers who win the "bell ringer" are given a goody bag. One highlight of the meet is the coaches' relay that takes place at the end of the third day.

The Titans earned points in every division.

Girls 10 and Under

In the female 10-and-under division, Lauren Phillips had an amazing three days. Phillips experienced a momentous four first-place finishes and cut a satisfying 15.61 seconds from her events. By the end of the meet, Phillips had earned 56 total points. Phillips was named one of the "swimmers of the meet" by the Titans and was awarded high-point total among all 10-and-under girls by the Stingrays Swim Club.

Allison Kopas (Amherst) had a rousing meet, swimming in nine events. One of the highlights of Kopas' meet was her first-place finish in the 200-meter freestyle, with a 6.79-second reduction from her previous best time. Erica Harms was a trooper, slashing 29.07 seconds from her 100 free and 100 back. Harms had a beautiful first-time swim in the 100 breaststroke.

Miranda Bigham sliced 7.36 seconds from the 50 backstroke and 50 and 100 free. Bigham showed great promise with determined first-time swims in the 200 free, 200 individual medley and 100 breast.

Seven-year-old Haley Epstein (Amherst) was heroic with first-time swims in the 50 free and 50 back. Marissa Olsen inspired everyone with first-place finishes in the 100 free and 50 breast. Olsen showed her abilities, snipping 15.01 seconds from her events.

Julia Sagasta (Tonawanda) was on fire, taking time off from every swim, leading to a total of 20.45 seconds burned from her events. Margaret Scherer had a tremendous improvement in the 200 breast, with a 19.56-second reduction in the event. The 50 fly and 100 free were also personal-best efforts for Scherer, leading to a total time reduction of 23.18 seconds. Madeline Jacumski (Clarence), a perennial strong swimmer, put forth great effort in nine events, earning 31 total points over three days.

Allison McCarthy (East Amherst) stripped an understated 1.80 seconds from her 50 free and 100 fly. McCarthy reaped the rewards of her efforts with a second-place finish in the 100 fly. Emily Kopas (Amherst) stopped in long enough to cut time from her 50 free. Taylor Meciszewski (Tonawanda) had a sublime first-time swim in the 50 breast. Meciszewski followed up with a triumphant 1.68-second improvement in her 50 free.

Evelyn Frederiksen made a memorable long-course debut in the 50 back and 50 and 100 free. Olivia MacDonald (Amherst) had a much-deserved second-place finish in the 100 breast. Lucy Malkiewicz, another courageous 7-year-old, started out her long-course season with robust first-time swims in the 50 free and 50 back.

Boys 10 and Under

The boys 10-and-under division featured four charismatic Titan swimmers. Alex Bakke (Kenmore) had a dynamic 9.28-second time reduction in the 50 free and 100 back. Riley McLaughlin (Orchard Park) was focused, trimming .43 second from his 100 free. Ian Eisenberger continued to make an impact with a fantastic 2.45-second improvement in his 50 back. Brett Hillman (Tonawanda) had two tenacious first-time swims in the 50 free and 50 back.

Girls 11-12

The girls 11-12 division was intense.

Lindsey Sagasta (Tonawanda) claimed first place in five events. Sagasta had a personal-best 100 fly, cutting 7.43 seconds from her entry time. Sagasta's efforts netted her a vital 49 total points.

Jacquie Sagasta finished first in three events, slashing 5.96 seconds from her times. Sagasta scored a dynamic 45 points during the three days. Rebecca Harms amazed with a whopping 42.56-second reduction in four events. Harms had a potent 200 breast, annihilating 30.92 seconds from her swim. Hayley Hofmar-Glennon (Amherst) had a wonderful meet, slamming 10.54 seconds from her 50 back, 100 free and 50 breast. Jenna Rice (Kenmore) had a fantastic first-place finish in the 50 free. Rice pursued excellence with a 2.50-second reduction between her 100 breast and 50 free. Shannon Peliterra had two exceptional first-time swims in the 50 and 100 free.

Boys 11-12

The boys 11-12 division was very competitive.

Peter McCarthy (East Amherst) swam a very productive 200 IM and 800 free, winning gratifying first-place finishes in both events. Julian Cavanaugh-Gordon (Cheektowaga) earned thrilling first-place finishes in the 50 and 200 free. Cavanaugh Gordon had a hard-fought personal-best time in the 100 fly. Julian Santiago (Kenmore) accomplished much-deserved personal-best times in the 50 free and 100 breast with a 5.10-second time cut. Michael Christie (Tonawanda) asserted himself, shredding 2.71 seconds from his 50 free and 50 breast.

Girls 13-14

The girls 13-14 division was ready for action.

Haley Rice (Kenmore) scraped 2.50 seconds from her 100 breast and 50 free. Rice's persistence was rewarded with a first-place finish in the 50 free. Caroline Wydysh captured first in the 50 free, second in the 100 back and conquered the 200 free, wiping 8.17 seconds from her swim. Lara MacDonald (Amherst) was jubilant, yanking 5.21 seconds from her 50 free. The 200 free was an engaging first-time swim for MacDonald.

Alanna Blasting (Kenmore) was awesome with her first-place finish in the 100 breast. Jessica Harms was glorious, winning first place in the 100 back. Monica Debus pushed herself to an enchanting third-place finish in the 50 free. Samantha Kahn was ambitious, taking on five events and earning points in the 100 free and 200 IM.

Boys 13-14

The boys 13-14 division included brief appearances by two Titan swimmers. Jacob Hofmar-Glennon (Amherst) dominated the senior men's back, with first-place finishes in the 100 and 200 races. Matthew McLaughlin swam the 50 free and 100 back with conviction, securing second place finishes in both events.

Girls senior

The girls senior division spotlight shone on Kristin Millar. Millar was exultant in 10 events. Millar ripped a remarkable 27.48 seconds from her swims. Millar's 11.35-second reduction in the 200 fly led her to a first-place finish. After evaluating Millar's performance, the Town of Tonawanda Titan's coaches also awarded her "swimmer of the meet" status.

Jillian Brown (Kenmore) put forth a prize-winning first-place effort in the 100 back.

Kelsey Rice (Kenmore) was vivacious in five events. Her efforts were rewarded with a third-place finish in the 100 fly. Corey Swift (Williamsville) was effervescent in the 50 and 100 free.

Boys senior

The boys senior division had an excellent representative in Pat Hurley. Hurley kept improving his standings throughout all four of his events, culminating in a first-place finish in the 100 breast.

The Niagara District long-course district championships are just around the corner, so the competition is intensifying. With many Town of Tonawanda Titan senior swimmers at the Supersectional meet at St. Mary's College in Maryland, the rest of the team is working overtime to achieve excellence.

Under head coach Scott Vanderzell, the athletes have one more chance to accomplish their long-course goals before the rest of the national meets in August.

For more information, visit www. ttscswimming. com.