During the Texas Amateur Athletic Federation (TAAF) Games of Texas Swimming Championships at the Cabiniss Athletic Complex in Corpus Christi held July 26 through July 29, Palestine YMCA Piranhas Summer Hagan, Madison Crader and Kacie Kimbrough qualified to compete in the 2013 State Games of America in Hershey-Harrisburg, Penn.
The State Games of America is a biennial Olympic-style event. In order to represent Texas at the Games of America, each athlete had to place in the top three in an event.
Hagan, 12, placed third with a personal best time in the 50-yard backstroke (33.71) and also took the bronze medal in the 50-yard freestyle (28.58). With another personal best in the 50-yard butterfly (32.91), Hagan tied for fifth place and finished eighth in the 100-yard individual medley.
“It was fun and exciting!” said Hagan of her experience at the TAAF State Games.
Crader, 10, topped her year off by placing third in her favorite event, the 25-yard breaststroke with a personal best of 18.71.
“I did?” an incredulous Crader asked upon hearing that she qualified for a trip to Pennsylvania. Momentarily rendered speechless by the news, her smile said it all.
Kimbrough, 9, took home a bronze medal in her favorite event, the 25-yard freestyle with a personal best of time of 14.37. She also swam her best times and placed seventh in the 50-yard freestyle (31.77) and eighth in the 100 individual medley (1:25.54).
“Yes!” exclaimed a delighted Kimbrough, with an added fist pump, when she learned that she would be joining teammates Hagan and Crader at the Games of America.
“I am thrilled for the girls,” Piranhas coach Kathrine Newton said. “Their performance at the TAAF Swimming Championships exemplified the ‘three Ds’ of swimming we talk about during practice—desire, determination, and dedication. These girls love to race and were not intimidated by their tough competitors, the huge crowds, or the facility which featured a 50-meter by 25-yard pool with 10 lanes and warm-up and cool-down pools.”
Newton also pointed out that Devon Edwards, 14, finished among the top twenty in the state in all of his events which in included the 100-yard freestyle, 50-yard backstroke, 50-yard butterfly and 50-yard freestyle.
“Like Summer, Devon had a busy schedule with four events,” said Newton. “I am pleased that he was able to physically and mentally hold his own against peers who may not swim year round, but more than likely swim for their schools in sanctioned meets — which is allowed under TAAF guidelines.”
Along with Edwards, the male Piranha contingent included Benjamin Gonzalez, 8, Chase Fields, 9, and Eli West, 16.
According to TAAF Executive Director Mark Lord, over 8,000 athletes from across the state competed in the Olympic-styled Games of Texas, which included baseball, boxing, fencing, golf, judo, kickball, skateboarding, softball, swimming, table tennis, track and field and the triathlon. Established in 1925, TAAF is a non-profit organization designed to promote, organize, and conduct amateur athletics in the state of Texas.
“The TAAF swimming program goal is to provide a state championship meet for recreational swimmers who have trained exclusively with a summer swim team,” TAAF State Swimming Commissioner Kristie Weaver said. “It is our desire to give participants a chance to compete in a sport and to be successful against swimmers of their own abilities and have the same opportunities to train.”
Over 6,000 athletes competed in swimming and track-and-field after qualifying in required meets held in the state’s 17 regions. The Piranhas were among the 18,000 athletes from 82 swimming teams across the state to vie for a berth in their region to attend the State Games.
The Region 6 qualifying meet, hosted by Megaladon Swimming and the Cain Center, was held July 15 in Athens.
Along with Hagan, Crader, Kimbrough, Edwards, Gonzalez, Fields, and West, nine other Piranhas qualified to go to Corpus Christi, but were unable to attend. These swimmers were Jarod Anderson, Taylor Edwards, Christopher Giron, Jacob Hatfield, Paige Hatfield, Jon-Michael Mahon, Taylor Rosson, Benjamin Schaap and Martin Suarez.
“The TAAF events are wonderful opportunities for the Piranhas to test themselves beyond our East Texas Summer Swim League and to give them a taste of the possibilities that the sport of swimming has to offer,” Newton said. “In fact, fellow Texan and current Olympian Dana Vollmer, a gold medal winner in both the 100-meter butterfly and in the Women’s 4-by-200 freestyle relay, began her career as a TAAF athlete.”
“I am so proud of the Piranha Swim Team members and especially of those qualifying for nationals,” David Hendricks, CEO of the Palestine YMCA, said “A big part of their success is due to the leadership that Kathrine Newton and Eddy Bentley provide. As a charity organization, we strive to develop character in young people and our swim team is an excellent example of this in action. The Y could not accomplish this alone, so I would like to personally thank all of the parents, volunteers, and donors that helped make this such a wonderful season.”
Palestine YMCA Aquatics Director Wade Hobbs shared Hendricks’s sentiments and thanked the Piranhas, their parents and the coaches for their hard work and sacrifice in creating a successful team in an eight-week period of time.
“I could not be more proud of our Piranhas than I am right now… [To] put up the numbers and wins that they do is phenomenal,” said Hobbs. “I look forward to hearing more and more great things from these young people.”
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