Riptide Hosts Cardinal Hill, Relay Teams Show Promise

The Virginia Run Riptide competed in the second meet of the season at home against Cardinal Hill on Saturday. The Riptide swam strong but lost to the Cardinals with a score of 227 to 193.

Despite the loss, the Riptide earned 52 personal bests and Jackson Blansett tied the Riptide's 2016 13-14 Boys 50 Meter Freestyle record with a time of 26.93.

The freestyle round was competitive and the Riptide was ahead of Cardinal Hill 46 to 44 at the end of the event with Nathan Tonthat, Tyler Harris, and Mathew Kelliher sweeping the boys 8 and under event and Ethan O’Connor, Bryan Kim, and Jackson Blansett all took first for the Riptide in the 9-10, 11-12, and 13-14 age groups. Caitlin Do swam for first for the girls 8 and under, with another sweep by Anna Kelliher, Jenna Van Buren, and Mary Schaad in the 9-10 race. Montse Garduno Estrada and Ginny Fitch placed first and second for the 11-12s, Caitlin Kelliher took third in the 13-14s group, and Maddie Whitton swam for second in the 15-18 group.

The backstroke round was close but started strong with another sweep for the 8 and under boys by Nathan Tonthat, Ernesto Garduno, and Matthew Kelliher. Nicholas Harris and Ryan Friess both took first for the 9-10s and 11-12s, and William Whitton and Samuel Roundtree placed first and third for the 13-14 group. Caitlin Do grabbed another first in the 8 and under backstroke, followed by a sweep in the 9-10s from Carson Coughlin and Caroline Friess (who tied for first place), and Mary Schaad in third. Isabelle Cogan swam for third in the 13-14 group and Chelsea Nguyen placed second for the 15-18 group. After backstroke the Riptide led the Cardinals, 92 to 88.

The Riptide fell behind in the breaststroke but had strong showings by Declan McCrea and Ryan Garcia, both at third for the 8 and under and 9-10 age groups. Luke Reed and Christopher Lee placed first and second in the 11-12 group with Nathan Ryman taking second in the 13-14 group and William Beamon and Michael Hart making a strong showing with first and third in the 15-18 group. Addison O’Connor was third in the girls 8 and under group, and Charis Roundtree and Jenna Van Buren brought home first and third for the 9-10 girls. Angela Thomson took second for the 11-12 girls and Emily Jon placed second for the 15-18 age group.

In the butterfly round, Tyler Harris and Robert Thomson brought home first and third for the boys 8 and under race, Nicholas Harris took first in the 9-10s, with Bryan Kim at first for the 11-12s, and Jackson Blansett and William Whitton placing first and second for the 13-14 group. Charis Roundtree and Anna Kelliher swam for first and second for the 9-10 girls, Angela Thomson placed second for the 11-12s and Caitlin Kelliher and Maddie Whitton both placed second for their 13-14 and 15-18 age groups.

Going into the relays, the Riptide swam hard hoping to take back some points from Cardinal Hill. The 8 and under free relay team of Nathan Tonthat, Declan McCrea, Matthew Kelliher, and Tyler Harris won with a time of 1:20.70. The boys 200-meter mixed-age freestyle relay swam for a win with a time of 2:01.20 by swimmers Bryan Kim, Nicholas Harris, Jackson Blansett, and Noah Schettini. The boys 9-10 medley relay won with team members Nicholas Harris, Ryan Garcia, Christopher Thomson, and Ethan O’Connor and a time of 1:18.60, the second fastest in that age group in Division 4 on Saturday. The 13-14 boys medley relay won again this week with the fastest time in that event in Division 4 with a time of 58.93 by swimmers William Whitton, Nathan Ryman, Jackson Blansett, and Samuel Roundtree.

The girls won two of their relay races, the 9-10 medley relay by Anna Kelliher, Jenna Van Buren, Caroline Friess, and Charis Roundtree with a time of 1:16.89 which was the fastest time for that race in the division; and the final race of the day, the girls mixed-age freestyle relay, won with a time of 2:05.50 and the team of Ginny Fitch, Charis Roundtree, Isabelle Cogan, and Maddie Whitton.

Coach Patrick Kearney, who is in his first year as head coach for the team and grew up swimming for the Riptide said, “The team has been working very hard at practice and has already shown signs of great improvement this early in the season. Not only have we been swimming well this season with over 300 personal bests in the first four meets, but our team spirit and energy at meets and practice have been sensational. Relay Carnival is quickly approaching, and I think our team has a great chance to do well. A lot of our relays are some of the best in our division and the whole league, so I’m excited to see how we perform at the Relay Carnival.”