After an Outstanding Run at State Championships Montclair Dolphins Dive Into Long Course Season

MONTCLAIR, N.J.– The Montclair Dolphins swim team dives into the long course summer season as Director of Competitive Aquatics Kyle Laracy builds on an outstanding run of results during the short-season championships. The team comes into the season in high spirits after several podium finishes for swimmers in the championships at the end of the winter season.

State Champions

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Two Dolphins were crowned state champions. Maeve D’Amico (Cedar Grove) won the 100-yard freestyle for 11-12 year-old girls with a time of 57.08 seconds. Ari Bhatt (Bloomfield) won the 8 and under boys 100-yard individual medley, and the 25-yard butterfly events.

“Given the strength and depth of YMCA swimming in New Jersey, it is a truly remarkable feat to place first overall in an event,” said Laracy. “Our team excelled throughout the championship season at all levels and ages. We look forward to seeing our athletes continue to thrive in the sport and other aspects of their lives for many years to come.”

Sunkissed Junior and Senior Championships Results

At the end of the short-court season, which runs from September to March in 25-yard pools, the Dolphins sent a pod of 29 swimmers to compete at the Sunkissed Junior and Senior Championships in Charlotte, NC on March 26-29. This is a meet with tough qualifying times that brings together

some of the fastest swimmers from 16 YMCA, YWCA, and other USA swimming teams.

Dolphins Top 10 Finishers in 13 & Under and 14 & Over

• Boys 13/U Soren Razo – 10th in 100-yd butterfly. 4th in 200-yd butterfly

• Boys 13/U Toby Arbelaez – 7th in 100-yd butterfly, 7th in 200-yd butterfly

• Boys 14/O Ronan Groves – 6th in 50-yd backstroke

• Girls 13/U Harper Loughlin – 9th in 100-yd butterfly, 10th in 200-yd butterfly

• Girls 13/U Maeve D’Amico – 10th in 50-yd backstroke, 10th in 50-yd freestyle

• Girls 13/U Pema Jangtey – 10th 50-yd breaststroke

• Girls 13/U Daphne Razo, Harper Loughlin, Ava Lewis, Maeve D'Amico - 6th in 400-yd Freestyle Relay

• Girls 14/O Magnolia Shimizu-Tragni – 9th in 50-yd backstroke

NJ YMCA State Championship Results

“The future is bright for our team, and these State meets were a powerful reminder of what this team is capable of achieving together,” said Madison Lalli, Assistant Director of Competitive Swimming.

NJ YMCA 8 & Under State Championships Dolphins Top 10 Finishers in Toms River, NJ at Ocean County YMCA (February 28)

• Boys 8/U Aariv Bhatt - 1st Place NJ YMCA State Champion 100-yd individual medley & 25-yd butterfly, 2nd in 50-yd Free

• Girls 8/U Abigail Lam - 5th in 25-yd breaststroke, 9th in 25-yd butterfly

• Girls 7/U Caroline Landrove - 7th in 25-yd backstroke, 8th place in 50-yd freestyle

• Girls 7/U Sienna Watts, Oleana Kelsch, Caroline Landrove, Stella Fernandes - 4th in 100-yd Medley Relay

• Girls 7/U Oleana Kelsch, Stella Fernandes, Harper Ross, Caroline Landrove - 6th in 100-yd Freestyle Relay

12 and Under NJ YMCA State Championship Dolphins Top 16 Finishers in Toms River, NJ at Ocean County YMCA (February 20-22)

• Girls 11-12 Maeve D’Amico- 1st in 100-yd Freestyle, 2nd in 50-yd Freestyle; 6th in 200-yd Freestyle, 11th in 50-yd Backstroke; 14th in 200-yd Backstroke, 15th in 100-yd Backstroke

• Girls 11-12 Daphne Razo, Nina Himmelberger, Chiara Fitzgerald, Maeve D'Amico - 12th in 200-yd Medley Relay

• Girls 11-12 Chiara Fitzgerald, Daphne Razo, Nina Himmelberger, Maeve D'Amico - 9th in 200-yd Freestyle Relay

• Boys 11-12 Toby Arbelaez- 9th in 100-yd Butterfly, 9th in 200-yd Butterfly, 11th in 50-yd Butterfly

• Boys 11-12 Marcel Arbelaez, Daniel Jeck, Toby Abelaez, Will Casey - 11th in 200-yd Medley Relay

• Boys 11-12 Will Casey, Nathan Birnbaum, Toby Abelaez, Marcel Arbelaez - 11th in 200-yd Freestyle Relay

• Girls 9-10 Beatrice Hooper – 5th in 200-yd Butterfly

• Girls 9-10 Ruby Delano – 9th in 50-yd Breaststroke, 12th in 200-yd Breaststroke, 16th 100-yd Breaststroke

• Girls 9-10 Bebe Hooper, Ruby Delano, Sophia Landrove, Sarah Silveira - 13th in 200-yd Medley Relay

• Boys 9-10 Simon Firth – 8th in 100-yd Individual Medley, 12th in 50-yd Freestyle, 14th in 100-yd Backstroke

• Boys 9-10 Aiden Stopp – 14th in 200-yd Freestyle

• Boys 9-10 Jackson Stover – 16th in 50-yd Backstroke

• Boys 9-10 Jackson Stover, Aiden Stopp, Gordon Balderston, Simon Firth - 9th in 200-yd Freestyle Relay

13 and Over YMCA State Championship Dolphin Top 24 Finishers held at Franklin and Marshall College in Lancaster, PA (March 5-8).

• Men 13-14 Gabriel Espiritu – 12th in 100-yd Backstroke, 24th in 100-yd Butterfly

• Men 13-14 Gabe Espiritu, Jameson De los Reyes, Max Prala, Carter Prala - 12th in 200-yd Medley Relay

• Men 13-14 Carter Prala, Gabe Espiritu, Jameson De los Reyes, Max Prala - 12th in 200-yd Freestyle Relay

• Women 15-21 Brenna Laracy – 21st in 100-yd Breaststroke

• Women 15-21 Brenna Laracy, Holly Hukkanen, Colette Smokowski, Alexa Tinapay - 10th in 400-yard Medley Relay

• Women 15-21 Colette Smokowski, Magnolia Shimizu-Tragni, Brenna Laracy, Alexa Tinapay - 10th in 400-yard Freestyle Relay

The YMCA of Montclair Dolphins swim team offers a year-round opportunity for competitive swimming in both YMCA and USA Swimming competitions as well as seasonal instructional clinics for aspiring competitive athletes. The team is comprised of girls and boys from age 6 through high school. Approximately 200 athletes train with the team each year. They compete at all levels, based on their skill set. Summer Dolphins Swim Team Tryouts will be held in July and early August. Registration will open in June.

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ABOUT THE YMCA OF MONTCLAIR
Established in 1891, the YMCA of Montclair welcomes all. We are a nonprofit that strengthens individuals, families, and community. We focus on empowering young people, improving health and well-being, and inspiring action in and across communities. Serving Bloomfield, Bloomingdale, Clifton, Cedar Grove, Glen Ridge, Haskell, Hewitt, Montclair, Verona, Wanaque, and West Milford. For more information, please visit montclairymca.org.

(Written by Simon Webb)