​Montclair Dolphins on the Podium at YMCA Silver Bronze Championships

MONTCLAIR, N.J. — The YMCA of Montclair Dolphins swim team is making waves as it enters the final stretch of the short-course season, boasting strong performances across all age groups. With the largest squad of championship qualifiers in years, the Dolphins are set for an exciting finish.

Silver Championship Success

At last weekend’s YMCA Silver Championship, 37 Dolphins competed.

“Our swimmers qualified for 22 new events at the YMCA Silver Championships, exceeding even my most optimistic expectations,” said Kyle Laracy, Director of Competitive Swimming.

Eleven Dolphins earned new state-qualifying times at the meet, advancing to the State Championships.

Montclair swimmers claimed 17 podium finishes, with standout performances including:

• Colette Smokowski (Montclair) (13-14 girls) won the 1000-yard freestyle, shaving an impressive 27 seconds off her best time to qualify for states. She also took silver in the 50-yard freestyle and bronze in the 400-yard individual medley, 200-yard backstroke, and 100-yard freestyle.

• Brenna Laracy (Montclair) won both the 200-yard individual medley and the 100-yard backstroke, securing state-qualifying times.

• Laracy and Smokowski teamed up with Alexa Tinapay (Cedar Grove) and Magnolia Shimizu-Tragni (Montclair) to win the 200-yard freestyle relay.

• Holly Hukkanen (Nutley) (13-14 girls) dropped 9 seconds from her best time to take bronze in the 500-yard freestyle, achieving a state-qualifying time.

• Harper Loughlin (Montclair) (11-12 girls) won the 100-yard butterfly.

• Emilian Quezada (West Orange) (9-10 boys) claimed gold in the 100-yard backstroke and silver in the 50-yard freestyle and 100-yard individual medley.

• Mathew Georgescu (Nutley) (11-12 boys) won the 100-yard breaststroke.

• Ryan Reis (Caldwell) (13-14 boys) finished 2nd in the 100-yard breaststroke.

• Josh Stokes (Glen Ridge) (13-14 boys) placed 3rd in the 100-yard backstroke.

Record Participation at the Bronze Championship

The Dolphins also saw a record 103 competitors at the YMCA Bronze Championship earlier in February.

The team earned 7 event wins and 28 podium finishes, with key highlights including:

• Gabe Espiritu (Bloomfield) (13-14 boys) won the 100-yard breaststroke.

• Reis Ryan (13-14 boys) claimed gold in the 50-yard freestyle sprint.

• Beatrice Olderog (West Orange) (15 & over girls) won the 100-yard butterfly.

• Arinola Okesanya (Montclair) (11-12 girls) took gold in the 50-yard breaststroke.

• Theo Schottland (Montclair) (9-10 boys) won the 100-yard butterfly.

• Simon Firth (Montclair) (9-10 boys) captured gold in the 100-yard individual medley.

• Soren Razo (Glen Ridge) (11-12 boys) won the 500-yard freestyle.

Youngest Swimmers Shine at 8-and-Under Championships

The Dolphins’ youngest competitors had an outstanding showing at the 8-and-Under State Championship in early February:

• Aariv Bhatt (Bloomfield) (7 & under boys) won gold in the 50-yard freestyle and silver in the 25-yard breaststroke and butterfly.

• Clare Laracy (Montclair) (8 & under girls) secured silver in the 25-yard breaststroke.

• Sophia Landrove (Montclair) (8 & under girls) earned bronze in the 50-yard freestyle and 25-yard butterfly.

• The girls’ 8-and-under 100-yard medley relay team also took silver.

Looking Ahead

This season, 21 Dolphins have qualified for the YMCA State Championships.

Twenty-three Dolphins will be competing in the Sunkissed Invitational Junior/Senior Swimming Championship in Charlotte, North Carolina. The team also wrapped up an impressive dual-meet season, winning 5 of 6 meets against other New Jersey YMCA teams.

At their final dual meet in January, the Dolphins celebrated their graduating seniors: Sohum Agashe (Cedar Grove), Harris Conk (Montclair), Rylan Gorman Zaldo (Montclair), Ronan Groves (Montclair), Sophie Gyan (Montclair), Jacob Hernandez (Bloomfield), Samantha Iannuzzi (Cedar Grove), Ella Kirkland (Glen Ridge), John Sagui (Clifton), and Olin Webb (Montclair).

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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.

ABOUT THE YMCA OF MONTCLAIR DOLPHINS SWIM TEAM 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.

Article submitted by Simon Webb