It didn’t matter that the weather in Augusta was cold and dreary at the Age Group State Meet at the end of February because the Marlins Age Group State qualifiers were on fire in the pool!  We successfully defended our Division II title and out scored our nearest competitor by nearly 3 times the number of points.

Leading the charge was 11-12 girls High Point winner, Kylie Stewart, who was State Champion in all of the events she swam (100/200/500/1000 free, 100/200 back, 200/400 IM, and 200 fly), and set new State records for the 200/1000 free and 200/400 IM.  Katherine Weeks claimed her titles as State Champion in the 100/200 breast and 100 IM.  Griffin Garratt was the 11-12 boys High Point winner and State Champion in the 50/100/200 fly, 200/400 IM and 200 breast.  Other Marlins who scored points for the team by finishing in the top 8 include 11-12 girls Katherine Weeks (6x), Jane Watts (1x); 13-14 girls Alli Crenshaw (3x), Stephanie Peters (3x); 11-12 boys Griffin Garratt (3x), Alex Riley (6x), David Dingess (2x); 13-14 boys Henry Loong (7x).  Top 16 finishers for the 11-12 girls were Jane Watts (3x), Olivia Clark (1x); 13-14 girls Alli Crenshaw (2x), Micaela Janco (2x), Nicole Prendes (2x), Stephanie Peters (1x), Cleo Naizer (1x); 11-12 boys David Dingess (4x), Andrew Tang (4x), Alex Riley (3x), Ryan Peck (1x), Matthew Williford (1x); 13-14 boys Zack Marshall (3x), Henry Loong (1x).

The 10 and unders were also heating up the pool with some fast swims!  Alex Mayfield won State Champion titles in the 200/500 free, 100 fly, and 200 IM.  Colin Riley now has bragging rights as State Champion in the 100 free.  Top 8 finishers for the 10 and under boys were Alex Mayfield (6x), Colin Riley (10x), Nick Hatch (1x).  Top 8 finishers for the girls were Britheny Joassaint (4x), Caitlin Oh (2x).  Adding more points for the Marlins with top 16 finishes were Britheny Joassaint (6x), Caitlin Oh (3x), Daniel East (3x), Nick Hatch (2x).

Great job, Marlins!

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