PUTNAM — Two girls won two freestyle events when the Hale YMCA Riptides swim team competed in the SENECY Swim League Championships. As one of the newer and smaller teams in the league, the Hale Riptides were ecstatic with their 10th-place finish, while they set two SENECY league Championship meet records along the way.  It was a true team effort, said coach Brian Reilly.
Mary Kate (14) set two meet records, as she took the gold in the 50 Freestyle (:24.99) and 100 Free (:54.60). Also, Sydney A. (8) won the 25-yard Free (:17.06) and the 50-yard Free (38.19).  For the girls, Mary B., Amelia D. and Faith M. were all in the top 10 finishes.
On the boys’ side, Nico D (9) took 4th in the 100 Individual Medley (a race in which each swimmer completes all four strokes - IM), tied for 8th in the 50 breaststroke and brought home a silver medal in the 100 Free.  Also, swimming the 100 Free was Jeffery M. (9) cut over 20 seconds from his best time.
Other 9/10 swimmers included best times from Emma C. in Free and Gabby F. in backstroke. Olivia M. took 11th in the 50 backstroke.  Strong swims in the 100 IM came from Sophie C., Callie N. and Abbie R.  In the Freestyle Relay Emma C., Sophie C, Callie N. and Olivia M., teamed up for a 14th- place finish.
In the 11-12 age group strong swims came from William T who finished 10th in the 200-yard IM; Zoey M., took 16th.
The 15 & over swimmers, Maura H., Charles O. and Helen T. provided leadership to the Riptides, often helping new swimmers with flip-turns and starts.   Unfortunately, the pool conditions late Sunday afternoon did not cooperate, and session was cancelled.
The 8 & under swimmers for the Riptides are already qualified for the New England Championship meet.   It’s often difficult to find new swimmers willing to learn butterfly, but this young group had several, and their Medley Relay team of Veronica W., Molley W., Sydney A. and Eva N. placed 9th.  In the freestyle events Sydney A. took gold in the 25 and 50, and she was supported by Eva N. and Veronica W. who placed 20th in the 50.   Molley W. took 5th in the 25 butterfly, as she took 5th. In addition to Veronica W,’s quick relay lead-off, the Riptides also had fast backstroke swims from Eva N. and Molley W. who placed 8th.
On the boys’ side, Thomas H., took off over 3 seconds in the 25 free enroute to placing 14th and he also turned in a best time in the 50 free as he took 16th. In the 100 Free Relay, the team of Molley W., Veronica W., Eva N. and Sydney A. scored yet another top 10 finish, as they came from behind to beat out the team from Woonsocket by a mere half second.
The 13-14 age group started off spectacularly with a 4th-place finish from the Medley Relay team of Mary Kate, Mary B., Amelia D. and Faith M. who just beat out the team from Westerly by a half a second.  Then, in the 200 IM, Mary and Faith were in adjacent lanes — they pushed each other while swimming 50 yards in all four strokes and scored their best times.  Mary B. placed 5th and Faith M. placed 9th. In the Free events, Mary Kate took the gold in the 50 and 100 while establishing new meet records.  Mary B. and Faith M. followed up on their strong swims in the 200 IM with 8th and 10th place finishes in the 100 Free.
On the boys’ side, James M. swam his best times in the 50 & 100 to take 12th & 18th places respectfully.  Another top 10 finish was turned in by butterfly specialist, Amelia D., who powered her way to 8th place, with her best time in the 100 Butterfly.  In the Free relay, the team of Amelia D., Mary B., Faith M. and Mary Kate set a new team record as they swam the 200 yards in 1:56.46, just beating out the Bayside Y relay team from Barrington, by 2 hundredths of a second. The SENECY swim league brings together swimmers from YMCA swim teams in Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.  

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