The Norwich YMCA Dolphins 9-10 Girls age group team holding District Championship trophy and third place State trophy, which is the first State title for this age group in program history. Back row left to right: Laura Coye, Nora Diefenbacher, Ellie Ryan, Adeline Vazquez, Mila Beltz, Front row left to right: Reigan Aikins and Kennedy Foulds. (Submitted photo)

NORWICH— The Norwich YMCA Dolphins swim team had a spectacular showing at this year’s NYS YMCA State Swim Meet. Each Dolphin had fierce competition in each of their heats and came home with a team total of 47 personal best times and produced over 2 minutes of collective time drops. More than 1,100 swimmers across five age groups qualified for the New York YMCA State meet. The places reported here indicate the final ranking of the swimmer out of the thousands of swimmers that compete every year state wide.

For the 8 & under age group Emma Harmyk swam her 25yard Back in 21.44 placing 13th, 50 yard free in 39.95 placing 12th, 100 yard Free in 1:38.25 placing 20th, and the 25 Free in 17.51 placing 13th.

Gideon Mathews swam his 100yard IM in 1:45.74 placing 13th, 50yard free in 40.63 placing 21st, 100 yard free in 1:30.44 placing 17th, 25yard free in 18.65 placing 26th, and his 25yard breast in 24.18 placing eighth.

For the 9-10 age group, Reigan Aikins 100 yard IM in 1:21.16, placing 12th, 100 yard free in 1:09.42 placing seventh, 50 yard free in 30.70 placing ninth, 50 yard fly in 34.68 placing seventh, and her 200 yard free in 2:29.28 placing fourth.

Mila Beltz swam her 100 yard free in 1:16.95 placing 34th, 50 yard back in 42.29 placing 35th, and her 50 yard free in 35.92 placing 51st.

Laura Coye swam her 100 yard free in 1:22.39 placing 56th, 50 yard back in 41.79 placing 30th, 50 yard free in 36.54 placing 62nd and her 50 yard breast in 41.74 placing eighth.

Nora Diefenbacher swam her 50yard back in 33.30 placing second and broke the Dolphins team record for this event, 50yard free in 29.04 placing third, also breaking a Dolphins team record, and her 50 yard breast in 37.61 placing first, claiming the State Championship title for this event while also breaking a 24 year old Dolphins team record.

Kennedy Foulds swam her 100 yard IM in 1:30.11 placing 41st, 100yard free in 1:16.76 placing 32nd, 50yard back in 42.18 placing 34th, 50yard breast in 43.72 placing 11th, and her 50yard free in 35.48 placing 47th.

Adeline Vazquez swam her 100yard free in 1:11.61 placing 12th, 50yard free in 31.51 placing 15th, and her 200 yard free in 2:33.52 placing sixth.

Lawton Ferris swam his 100yard IM in 1:32.86 placing 31st, 100yard free in 1:20.67 placing 36th, and his 50 yard back in 45.34 placing 41st.

For the 11-12 age group, Maggie Williams swam her 50 yard free in 27.23 placing fifth, 100 yard free in 1:00.63 placing sixth, 50 yard Fly in 30.28 placing sixth, and her 50 yard breast in 36.58 placing eighth.

Kate Hull swam her 50 yard free in 29.20 placing 25th, 200 yard free in 2:30.91 placing 39th, 100 yard free in 1:07.87 placing 40th, and her 50 yard back in 36.08 placing 33rd.

Alex Beiu swam his 50 yard free in 31.58 placing 40th, 200 yard free in 2:33.62 placing 28th, and his 100 yard Free in 1:09.35 placing 32nd.

For the 15 & over age group, Demond Beltz swam his 50 yard free in 25.01 placing 49th, and his 100 yard free in 57.28 placing 64th.

Alex Moutarde swam his 50yard free in 24.25 placing 38th and his 100 yard free in 53.75 placing 37th.

Tim Guzewich, in his final swims of his career, swam his 50 yard free in 25.06 placing 53rd and his 100 yard back in 1:03.40 placing 32nd.

Other big achievements for the Dolphins included the 9-10 Girls 200 yard Medley Relay team, consisting of Nora Diefenbacher (back), Laura Coye (breast), Reigan Aikins (fly), and Adeline Vazquez (free) breaking a 37 year old Dolphins team record now set at a blazing 2:22.70. The 9-10 girls age group consisting of Reigan Aikins, Mila Beltz, Laura Coye, Nora Diefenbacher, Kennedy Foulds, and Adeline Vazquez wrapped up the State meet with one more achievement by bringing home the third place overall State trophy beating out 16 other teams in the State including all of the teams within the Central NY YMCA league. This is the first State title for this age group in the Norwich YMCA Dolphins program history!

The coaches are very proud of each swimmers’ performances.

All of the hard work, discipline, and dedication demonstrated during training throughout the season, really shined through at this meet. Teammates cheered each other on, lifted each other up, and displayed great sportsmanship.

So many goals were smashed with the excitement and smiles from the swimmers making for a great way to end the season.

-Information from the Norwich YMCA Dolphins