Local swimmer takes 15th at YMCA nationals
By Brian Riley, Riptide Coach
PUTNAM — The Horse Capital of the World is probably the last place you’d expect to find an incredible Riptide, but that’s exactly what folks were presented with as Mary Kate Barnwell of the Hale YMCA Riptides took the podium following her 15th-place finish in the evening finals session of the 50m Butterfly at the YMCA Nationals Long Course Championship in Ocala, Fla. This is her third time at the Long Course Championships.
At the beginning of the five- day meet Barnwell was merely hoping to reach the Top 30 in one event, so she would have the opportunity to swim in the evening finals session. During the first three days of competition, although Mary Kate swam well, she didn’t make the Top 30. But she didn’t get discouraged and continued to work out.
Aug. 1 officially, ranked 71st in the 50m Butterfly Barnwell was slotted in the very first heat, while the fastest swimmers were positioned in the 7th heat. Despite her ranking, Mary Kate thought that if she swam her race, she’d have an outside shot at making finals. She swam her best time in the 50m Butterfly (:29.34), but Mary Kate had to wait for all the other heats to swim to find out where her time had placed her.
Not only did Barnwell crack the top 30, she and a swimmer from New Jersey were tied for 10th place. Even though she had been ranked at #71, Mary Kate had leap-frogged over 61 swimmers into a tie for10th place. Because there was a tie for 10th place there would have to be a swim off to determine which swimmer would take the 10th spot
Before the swim-off, both girls would compete in the 100m Backstroke. Ironically, earlier in the day, the girls had received random lane assignments - next to one another. Mary Kate won the 100m Backstroke battle against the competitor from Scotch Plains, N.J. Later, in the swim-off, the race was neck and neck between the two butterfliers and Barnwell dropped one-tenth of a second finishing in a best time of (:29.24). The swimmer from the Garden State, however, swam the 50m Butterfly just a little faster, turning in a time of :29.12.
In the evening Finals session for the 50m Butterfly, Mary Kate finished in :29.36, good enough for 15th place and a trip to the podium. Ironically, the swimmer from New Jersey also finished with a time of :29.36. Mary Kate and the swimmer from the Garden State had tied twice in one day. There wouldn’t be another swim-off, because the swimmers in the Championship Final are locked into the Top 10 places. After beginning the day ranked 71st, Barnwell was ecstatic that she was able to stand on the podium and receive her 15th Place ribbon AND she had tied with the 10th-place finisher — twice.
Aug 2, with a time of :28.04 in the Preliminaries of the 50m Freestyle, however, it was clear that If Barnwell was tired, she wasn’t showing it. She earned her second evening Finals swim of the week. With a 28th-place finish in the evening finals session of the 50m Freestyle (:28.05), Mary Kate had logged her second finals, Top 30 swim of the YMCA Nationals Championships meet.
Barnwell had qualified in six (6) events, but the rules only permit swimmers to compete in five (5) individual events. So, at YMCA LC Nationals, Mary Kate competed in: 100 Free; 100 Butterfly; 100 Backstroke; 50 Butterfly; and 50 Freestyle. On an off day, Barnwell competed in the 200 Backstroke as a Time Trial. Though happy with her accomplishments - as a rising junior at Marianapolis Preparatory School, Mary Kate is hungry for more podium finishes at Nationals meets in the future.
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Mary Kate Barnwell of the Hale YMCA Riptides in the Nationals, swimming butterfly. Courtesy photo.
It’s not magic ... ‘We are better together’
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — Almost 7,000 ducks seamlessly poured into the water. And then were seamlessly “rescued” and added to the prize tote board by a crackerjack crew. And that followed months of duck ticket sales everywhere, organizing and months of hard work.
More than $28,000 was raised for the Putnam Business Association’s (PBA) community programs and another $11,493 for 32 not-for-profit organizations, according to Pluck-A-Duck Chair Beth Markowski-Roop.
And it wasn’t magic!
In its eighth year, the PBA’s largest fund-raiser is a reflection of generous sponsorships and the hard work of countless, nameless volunteers.
The work involved is tremendous. Markowski-Roop said the PBA Pluck A Duck Committee of 10 dedicated members, worked hard from March through August to coordinate all aspects of this two-day fund-raising event, from the Celebrity Dunk Tank, Wall Of Wishes, NOW & PBA Fun Run, and many Kids Corner activities, as well as the Plucking of Ducks and live broadcasts. And, she said, we are also so appreciative of our 13 local Celebrities, willing to take the plunge in the Celebrity Dunk Tank, sponsored by WIN Waste Innovations. Their efforts helped raised over $1,600 for the Putnam Business Association. The Top 3 Celebrities who raised the most funds from their efforts, had a $100 donation made to their charity of choice, from a grateful PBA: Attorney Kate Cerrone, Northeast Law Center, had a $100 donation made to: Northeast Opportunities For Wellness (NOW); Robert Challinor, VFW Post 1523, had a $100 donation made to: VFW Post 1523; Kelsey Campbell, The Craft Collective Salon, had a $100 donation made to: NECCOG (Animal Services)
Attorney Kate Cerrone, president of the PBA, said: “A strong business community is built on the simple truth that we are better together. Local businesses don’t just operate side-by-side—they support one another, share resources, and celebrate each other’s successes. That spirit of collaboration extends beyond business. Our volunteers—whether serving on committees, planning events, or lending a helping hand—remind us that when people give their time and energy for the good of others, they create a foundation of strength, resilience, and pride that lifts the entire community.”
Deputy Mayor Roy Simmons, at a recent ribbon cutting for a local business, said: “You have a terrific support system in this town. You have one of the most awesome business associations I’ve ever seen.”
The funds go back into the community, through PBA programs. Cerrone added: This year’s Pluck-A-Duck event will help fund events for the community such as Savor the Flavor on Sept. 7 and other upcoming Fall and Winter events, like Particle Accelerator on Sept. 13, the Great Pumpkin Festival and Zombie Fashion Show on Oct. 3 and Small Business Saturday, International Day, Super Hero Saturday, and this year Music on Main (last one is this Friday). And there are philanthropic activities such as the Blood Drive Sept. 9 at the Hale YMCA Youth and Family Center,
Markowski-Roop said there were 11 local businesses supporting the PBA by selling duck raffle tickets, and also 32 not-for-profit organizations, including:
Access Emergency Shelter/The Access Community Action Agency, Anchors of Hope, Bags of Hope CT, Brooklyn Schools PTO, Cub Scouts Pack 43, Danielson Veterans Coffeehouse, Hale YMCA Youth & Family Center, NAMI Windham County NWC, Natchaug River Young Marines, Northeastern CT Arts Guild, Northeastern CT Relay For Life, Northeastern Insurance Professionals, Northeast Opportunities for Wellness, Nutmeg Acres Wildlife Rehabilitation, Opportunity Works CT Inc./Floral & Gifts of OWC, PAWS Cat Shelter, PCS Class of 2025 / PCS Class of 2025 8th Grade DC Trip, Putnam Arts Council, Putnam Lodge of Elks #574, Putnam Rotary Club, Quiet Corner NEMBA, Quiet Corner Veterans Support Coalition & VFW Post 4908 E Killingly, Quinebaug Valley Senior Center, St. James Parochial School, Saint Joseph’s Living Center, Thames Valley Council for Community Action (Meals-On-Wheels Program), The Arc Eastern Connecticut, The Sunshine Kids Charity, Theatre of Northeastern CT/The Bradley Playhouse, Tourtellotte Memorial High School, United Services, and VFW Auxiliary Post 1523.
She said because of the generosity of sponsors and local businesses there were 125 prizes.
It does indeed take a village. Markowski-Roop said: “We are truly grateful to the 30 sponsors of the two-day event that made this popular fund-raising event possible. Also to Breezeline, Centreville Bank, Christopher Heights of Webster and Day Kimball Health, the generous sponsors of the NOW & PBA Fun Run, held Aug. 10 at the Hale YMCA Youth & Family Center with dozens of participants.
Additionally, there were 48 Corporate Duck sponsors, businesses big and small, excited to compete to be the 2025 winner. The 2025 Corporate Duck winner was the VFW Post 1523 of Putnam.”
Asked why she thought the Pluck-A-Duck was so successful, Markowski-Roop said: “The PBA Pluck-A-Duck Raffle Event has become a beloved and unique event and fund-raising tradition, where every raffle ticket sold makes a difference in our community. The Kids Corner offers FREE family fun, with exhibitors and so many activities for kids of all ages to enjoy, the Wonderful Waddle scavenger hunt, mascot appearances and our NOW & PBA Fun Run. We are so grateful to our many sponsors, generous raffle prize donors, not-for-profit partners and local businesses, Dunk Tank Celebrities and volunteers for helping to make the 2025 PBA Pluck-A-Duck raffle event possible, and such a success!”
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Like a fine tuned machine. Volunteers process the ducks as they come out of the water and place the correct numbers on the prize tote board. Linda Lemmon photo.
Visitor
Recent visitors to the Gertrude Chandler Warner Boxcar Children Museum were Marc and Marylou Cotnoir, along with their son Ryan, from Fairfax, Vir. Ryan is an avid reader delighting in the adventures of Henry, Jesse, Violet and Benny. They’re shown here with Watch, the children’s dog, as he “borrows” Ryan’s glasses.
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President’s List
DUDLEY — Nine local students achieved President’s List honors at Nichols College for the spring semester: Taylor Annis of N. Grosvenordale, Alivia Dalpe of Thompson, Ryan Deschamps of Pascoag, Brady Devlin of Putnam, Angel Lewis of Danielson, Jonah Libby of Pomfret, Maya Orbegozo of Brooklyn, Julia Revellese of Dayville, and Nick Skaradowski of Thompson.
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