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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On March 5th, a group of 22 swimmers headed to Senior Sectionals in Cary, NC to prove that they could compete with the biggest and best teams in the southeast...and did they ever compete!  This group of determined swimmers placed 6th out of 52 teams represented (ask Coach Lim to see the plaque they received!).  Individuals scoring points for the Marlins were Kelsey Gaid (5th in the100 back, 6th in the 200 free, 500 free, 200 back, and 7th in the 100 free); Mike Podbielski (4th in the 100 free, 200 free, and 5th in the 50 free); Sarah Williford (7th in the 500 free, 8th  in the 1000 free and 1650 free); Drew Onken (4th in the 400 IM, 15th in the 200 breast, and 16th in the 200 back); Kylie Stewart (10th  in the 200 back, 12th in the 100 free, and 15th in the 100 back); Kim Zachensky (8th in the 100 breast and 15th in the 200 breast); Liz Braun (8th in the 200 fly and 13th in the 500 free); Alli Crenshaw (11th in the 1000 free); and Courtney Peters (15th in the 200 fly).

The relays swam amazingly well, too!  On the boy’s side, the combination of Mike Podbielski, Drew Onken, Nick Markey, and Coach Philipp placed 4th in the 400 medley relay and 6th in the 400 free relay.  Drew, Nick, Coach Philipp, and Jordan Turner swam to a 12th place finish in the 800 free relay.  For the girls, Kelsey Gaid, Ansley Crenshaw, Liz Braun, and Kylie Stewart finished 3rd in the 800 free relay and 7th in the 400 free relay.  Kelsey, Kim Zachensky, Courtney Peters, and Kylie also finished 7th in the 400 medley relay.  Showing the depth of talent on the team, the 800 free “B” relay of Sarah Williford, Courtney Peters, Alli Crenshaw, and Stephanie Peters finished 12th among all teams!

Other noteworthy achievements this weekend were Kylie Stewart’s 200 free time of 1:49.64 and her 200 back time of 1:59.49 that now put her as the National Age Group record-holder for 11-12 girls in those two events.  Congratulations, Kylie!

Great job, Marlins!
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NEWS FLASH!!!!

Marietta Marlins swimmer Kylie Stewart has set TWO new USA Swimming National Age Group (NAG) Records for Short Course as of March 2009!

Girls age 11-12
200 yard freestyle 1:49.64
200 yard backstroke 1:59.49

CONGRATULATIONS KYLIE!!!!!

You can see other record holders at the USA Swim records page here

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Are Your AG Swimmers on Track for Success?
by Bill Thomas, M.S., Alamo Area Aquatics

Link to article can be found here.

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