Riptide Swims by the Tsunami's

The Virginia Run Riptide traveled to Riverside Gardens in the far southeastern corner of Fairfax County and neutralized the Tsunami’s, winning the meet 242 to 178.

The freestyle events were highly competitive with Charis Roundtree (8U), Charles Beamon (9-10), Caitlin Kelliher (9-10), Jacquelyn Hart (13-14) and Chloe Hicks (15-18) winning firsts. Megan Marco (8U), Conner Gary (9-10), Jason Cheifetz (11-12), Chelsea Nguyen (11-12), Charlie Gunn (13-14), and Nick McGrath (15-18) captured second place while Ryder Hicks (8U), Maddie Whitton (11-12) and Brooke Guidash (15-18) swam for third.

The Tide had the narrowest of leads, 46 to 44, as the backstrokers pushed off. Rising to the challenge with first place swims were Davis Collinsworth (8U), Cheris Roundtree (8U), Owen Thomas (11-12), Chelsea Nguyen (11-12), Anthony Arcomona (13-14), and Chloe Hicks (15-18). Victoria Davila (9-10), Catie Gun (11-12) and Nick McGrath (15-18) took seconds and those all-important third place points were won by Ryder Hicks (8U), Ginny Fitch(8U), Jackson Blansett (9-10), Isabella Cogan (9-10), Andrew Boyle (11-12), Charlie Gunn (13-14), Chanel Cogan (15-18) and Geoffrey Eisenhart (15-18).

With the lead expanded to 93-87, the breaststrokers moved to the starting blocks. First place finishes were achieved by Lanny Zimmerman (8U), Isabella Cogan (9-10), Anthony Arcomona (13-14), Olivia Masterson (13-14), Leo Wang (15-18), and Mia Newkirk (15-18). Seven swimmers swam for second place including Andrew Newkirk (8U), Payton Kuhlman (8U), Nora Collinsworth (9-10), Jack Liskey (11-12), Gabriella Borsato (11-12), Jacquelyn Hart (13-14), and Patrick Kearney (15-18). Griffin Osterhout (9-10) and Alana Turflinger (11-12) won third place points.

As the butterfly competition began, the Riptide continued to assert themselves winning eight of ten races with Davis Collinsworth (8U), Megan Marco (8U), Sean Gunn (9-10), Caitlin Kelliher (9-10), Maddie Whitton (11-12), Olivia Masterson (13-14), Joey Castro (15-18) and Mia Newkirk (15-18) swimming to victories. Jack Liskey (11-12), Catie Gunn (11-12), William Beamon (13-14) and Patrick Kearney (15-18) placed second, while Laney Zimmerman (8U), Katie Conway (11-12), Harry Schlatter (13-14) and Alexa McAnally (15-18) placed third.

Moving into the relays, the Riptide had established a wider lead and victories by both the girls and boys 8U free relays helped the team to close in on a win. With the crowd going hoarse from cheering, the 9-10 Boys Medley Relay of William Whitton, Griffin Osterhout, Sean Gunn and Charles Beamon won their race by .41 seconds and the 11-12 Boys Medley Relay of Owen Thomas, Jack Liskey, Andrew Boyle, and Jason Cheifetz won their race by a mere .03 seconds and the meet victory was assured. The medley relays for the 11-12 girls, 15-18 boys and 15-18 girls and the Mixed Age Girls Free Relay also claimed wins to finish a celebratory day.