Madison Mariners Sprint to YMCA 12U State Championships

Toms River, NJ- Twelve Madison YMCA Mariners (MAY) swam exceptionally over the course of the 2015/2016 swim season, qualifying them for the NJ YMCA 12U State Championships. This state-wide Championship meet, attended by 27 YMCA teams, took place on Feb. 26-29 at Ocean County YMCA in Toms River, NJ. The remarkable MAY swimmers who qualified for and competed in this meet included: 10U females Fiona Beacom, Isabella Guarino and Jule Schaefer; 10U males, Colin Faraher, Ryan Feron, William Foucher, Francis Jaso, Ryan Snarr, and Owen Weller; and 12U Males, Kyle Beebe, Terrence Luongo and James Lord.

This intense competition motivated MAY swimmers to sprint to amazing accomplishments, achieving Junior Olympic (JO) times and personal records in a variety of individual events. Francis Jaso lead the 10U males, posting JO times in 3 individual events (50 Free, 100 Free and 200 Free) and Colin Faraher swam to JO success in the 100 Breast. Jaso and Faraher also achieved personal bests in 100 Back (Jaso) and 50 Free, 50 Breast, and 50 Fly (Faraher). Ryan Snarr swam his fastest times in both the 100 Back and 50 Fly. Other outstanding 10U male racers included Ryan Feron in the 200 Free, Owen Weller in the 100 Back and William Foucher in 50 Free and 100 Free. The 10 U Male 200 Free Relay team (Foucher, Feron, Jaso and Faraher) and 200 Medley Relay team (Jaso, Faraher, Snarr and Foucher) also crushed their previous best times.

In the 10U Female category, Jule Schaefer earned her first JO time in 100 Breast, while Isabella Guarino posted personal best times in each of her 6 individual events, including 50 Free, 50 Breast, 50 Fly, 100 IM, 100 Back and 100 Breast. Fiona Beacom also sprinted to success in 100 Breast and 50 Breast, achieving personal records in both.

In the 12U male category, Terrence Luongo dominated, adding to his existing JO and personal best times in each of his six individual events. Luongo had spectacular races, earning him further JO times in 50 Free, 100 Free, 50 Back, 100 IM (he had already met JO standards in 50 Breast and 100 Back). James Lord sprinted to an amazing 50 Free finish with a personal best time, while also finishing strong in the 100 Free, and Kyle Beebe recorded an impressive time in the 100 Back.

The Mariners Next Meets are as follows:
• Mar 10-13 NJ YMCA 13 and Over States at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA
• Mar 18-20 NJS 14 and Under Junior Olympics at Rutgers University in Piscataway, NJ

At the Madison Area YMCA, all are welcome to be enriched by Y Membership and programming, regardless of the ability to pay. Generous donations to the Y’s Annual Fund make it possible for everyone in our community to experience the Y.

For more information about our financial assistance program, contact Maggie Claudio, Financial Assistance Coordinator, at (973) 822, YMCA (9622(, ext.2311 or mclaudio@madisonareaymca.org.
To find out more about the Mariners Swim Team, contact Head Coach Jon Siegel at (973) 822-9622, ext. 228 or Madison Area YMCA Aquatics Director Lisa Kowal at (973) 822-9622, ext. 2230.