The Solheim Center Swimming Pool at Le Tourneau University in Longview proved to be the perfect “fast water” venue for the fifteen qualifying Palestine YMCA Piranhas who competed Saturday in the East Texas Summer Swim League (ETSSL) All-Stars Meet.
“I can’t tell you how proud of the team I am,” Piranha coach Kathrine Newton said. “In a short seven weeks of diligent practice on technique and tough work on conditioning, we have become competitive in short distances against teams that swim year-round.”
Leading the Piranha charge was Summer Hagan, 12, who finished second in the 11-12 year-old girls Individual High Point Trophy. Hagan earned two first-place finishes in the 50-yard freestyle (in 28.13 seconds) and in the 50-yard backstroke (34.50). She also finished third in the 50-yard butterfly (34.06).
Kacie Kimbrough, 9, and Madison Crader, 10, packed a one-two punch in the 9-10-year-old girls 25-yard freestyle by touching the wall first and second with personal best times of 14.17 and 14.47, respectively. Kimbrough went on to finish seventh in the 25-yard butterfly (17.65).
With personal best times and a second-place finish in the 25-yard breaststroke (19.50) and a fifth-place in the 25-yard butterfly (16.84), Crader joined Hagan by taking third place honors in the 9-10-year-old girls Individual High Point standings.
Sophie Lerich, 13, came in eighth place in the 50-yard breaststroke (47.19), while Paige Hatfield, 15 — who doubled her racing distance since changing age groups this year — placed seventh in the 100-yard backstroke (1:33.09) and fifth in the 100-yard Breaststroke (1:56.87).
Leading the Piranha boy’s medal hunt this year was Devon Edwards, 14. With personal bests in both the 50-yard backstroke (31.97) and the 50-yard butterfly (30.94), he came in third place in both events. Edwards finished sixth in the 50-yard freestyle (26.91).
Eli West, 16, brought home a silver medal in the 100-yard backstroke (1:21.31) and a bronze medal in the 100- yard butterfly (1:13.09). He also placed fourth in the 100-yard freestyle (1:00.60).
With a fourth place finish and a personal best time of 20.25 seconds in the 25-yard butterfly, Chase Fields, 9, just missed an All-Star medal. He also swam to a seventh-place ribbon in the 100-yard individual medley (25 yards each of Butterfly, Backstroke, Breaststroke and Freestyle) with a time of 1:43.94.
Martine Suarez, 11, capped his season off with a best time and a seventh place in the 50-yard butterfly.
Also representing the Piranhas in style were Kassie Bosley, 7; Benjamin Gonzalez, 7; Serena Coker, 12; Olivia Schaap, 12; Jacob Hatfield, 13; and Benjamin Schaap, 14.
Qualifying, but unable to attend the All-Stars Meet, were Jon-Michael Mahon, 9; Christopher Giron, 12; and Taylor Edwards, 16.
According to Newton, in order to compete against “the best of the best” in the East Texas Summer Swim League, athletes had to swim in at least one regular meet held during the mid-season and go to the Lufkin Champs Meet hosted by Ambush Swimming at the Boys and Girls Club Lufkin Swim Center July 14.
“At Champs, a swimmer must finish in the top sixteen in their event in order to claim a berth at All-Stars,” explained Newton. “This year 409 swimmers vied for top honors — just shy of eight swimmers in setting a record for our league in terms of participants.
“Regardless of medal and ribbon count, what I am most pleased about this year is that the Piranhas really became a team in more than name,” Newton continued. “During practice Piranhas encouraged each other and at meets they cheered for each other. I believe that peer leadership and unity was a big factor in our success.”
For information about the Piranhas and other aquatic programming, please contact the Palestine YMCA at 903-729-3139 and/or go to www.palestineymca.org. The YMCA is located at 5500 N. Loop 256 in Palestine.
Local Sports
Youth Sports: Piranha swimmers shine at All-Star meet
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H.S. Softball Playoffs: Grapeland scores early and often in semifinal clincher
Just like in game one, the Grapeland Sandiettes jumped out to a big lead during Saturday's decisive Game 3 against the Joaquin.
The only difference is this time the Sandiettes never let off the gas on their way to a dominant 12-2 win over the Lady Rams in the do-or-die regional semifinal game.
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Holland gave up four hits and hit a batter in the top of the third inning, and Harleton turned that into four runs — the only runs of the game — as Harleton topped Cayuga, 4-0, here at the Lindale ISD Baseball and Softball Complex in regional quarterfinal action. -
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H.S. Baseball: Palestine, Elkhart open playoffs Thursday
After a seven-year absence from postseason play that ended last year, the Palestine baseball team opens up its second-straight playoff campaign Tuesday.
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