January Meet Review (AA)
SWAT swimmers began their 2025 racing campaign at two levels on the weekend of January 18-19. On Saturday, January 18 AA Age Group swimmers raced at two sessions at Centennial Pool in Halifax. The following day, Sunday, January 19, The Nova Tech swimmers took to the lanes at Centennial for the first Nova Tech meet of the New Year. 61 swimmers raced over the two days earning a total of 107 Best Times. There were also many first time events and many rare and unfamiliar events. 4 swimmers qualified for higher competition and several others added pre-requisites for higher competition to their portfolio.
At the AA meet on Saturday, 21 SWAT swimmers from three groups repped the green cap. 44 best times and 19 new first time events were swam. One swimmer qualified for AAA competition and One swimmer earned their first East Coast Champs Standard.
The Novice group was represented by 6 swimmers earning 10 best times and 11 new events. Several members of the group raced their first 400 Freestyle! Rachel asked to swim her first 400 Freestyle at this meet. Avery earned 3 best times and swam her first 400 Free. She dropped 3 seconds in her 50 Fly. Farrah earned 1 best time, an 8 second improvement in the 200 IM, and swam 3 new full season events including a first ever 400 Free. Jude earned times in 4 new events. August bettered 3 times including his first 50 fly under 40 seconds. He was also a part of the first 400 club. Ryan swam his first sub 3:00 200 Free with a big new personal best and swam his first 400 Free as well.
The Junior Group sent 11 healthy bodies to race. The group posted 23 new personal bests and swam 8 new events: mostly long Freestyle events. Morgan swam to a big 11 second improvement in the 200 Back. Alex swam in the afternoon and had a big 43 second improvement in the 200 Free swimming under 3:00 for the first time after a long stretch between attempts. He also swam his first official 200 Back and added that time to his AAA portfolio. He needs one more 200 to be fully AAA qualified. Erica B earned a best time in the 200 Breaststroke. Angus had an excellent weekend with 4 best times and his first 800 Freestyle. He dropped 19 seconds off the 100 Breaststroke. Claire got herself 3 best times including a 2 second improvement in the 200 Back. Madelynn took over 10 seconds off in both the 200 IM and 200 Free as part of her 3 PB performance. Charlotte had 3 best times and 2 new events. She swam her first 800 Free, dropped 9 seconds in the 400 Free, and another 7 in the 200 Free. Her new 50 Free time is under the East Coast Champs standard. Ocean raced in her first competition as a Junior Group member earning 2 best times and 1 new event in the 400 Free. Ethan had some pretty big drops in his 2 best times and swam his first 400 IM. He dropped 47 seconds in the 400 Free getting under 7:00. And took another 15 in the 200 IM. Marco had 3 times improve at the end of the day and swam his first 800 Free. He cut his 200 Breaststroke time down by 33 seconds and then followed up with 11 and 16 second improvements in the 100 Fly and 200 Back respectively. Erica R swam her first 800 Free without fear.
4 swimmers from the Senior group attended the meet. They set 11 personal bests as a crew. Gabe C bested 3 of his previous bests including: a sub 3:00 200 Back, and 6 second best times in the 100 Fly. Maggie was a perfect 5 for 5 on the weekend. She posted big drops in the 200 IM, the rare 200 Back, and a massive 47 seconds in the 400 IM. Her highlight though was the AAA qualifying 50 Fly swim that invites her to LCM competition for the reset of the year. Morgan posted a PB in the 50 Free and continues to return to her times from before her year away. Sam S earned 2 best times highlighted by the 13 second best time in the 400 Free.
AA Swimmers race next on February 8 at the SWAT hosted AA2 at Centennial. Families be prepared to volunteer to have a smooth-running meet. Newly graduated AAA swimmers will join their LCM counterparts at AAA2 on February 22.