By Duncan Nixon
Correspondent
The temperature was in the low 90s on June 30, when the three-way swim meet involving FAST (Fluvanna Aquatic Sports Team), The Elks Swim Team and the Louisa Gators Swim Team got started. Most of the spectators at the Gators home pool were able to find shade and the swimmers were in and out of the water, so no one was too severely affected by the heat. The Gators’ pool is located on Industrial Drive just off Rt. 208, between Louisa and Mineral.
As previously reported, the Jefferson Swim League (JSL) has changed its meet structure due to the pandemic. This meet was for the age 11 and over swimmers. FAST Head Coach Mike DiFazio reports that FAST has about 60 swimmers this year. DiFazio is assisted by Coaches Brennan King and Emma DiFazio.
Pursuant to JSL’s current protocols this meet was not scored on a team basis, however, race times and results were reported and published online. The FAST team had some outstanding performances. The first outstanding performance of the night was turned in by Reese Yowell in the age 11—12, 50-yard freestyle event. Her time of 33.05 won easily and it was better than the winning time in the boy’s 11-12, 50-yard free event. In another 50-yard free event, Tyler Harris won in the 15-18 age group by over three seconds.
In another win, Reese Yowell, took the 50-yard backstroke by over six seconds. In the age 13-14, 50-yard backstroke, Jacob Thurston Wells won by about five seconds, which is a solid margin in a 50-yard event. Other first place finishers for the FAST squad were, Riley Yowell in the 15-18, 50-yard freestyle, Leanna Collier in the 11-12 breaststroke, Tyler Harris in the 15-18 50 yard breaststroke, Levi Thurston Wells in the 13-14 50 yard backstroke, and Jackson Kinsella in the 15-18 50 yard backstroke. FAST also took first in the boys’ 200-yard freestyle relay. The relay team consisted of Tyler Harris, Mitch Messier Edwin Navarro and Jackson Kinsella.
Swimmers who took second place in their respective events included,Lily O’Neill Gummel,Bela H. Varga, Abby Ford, Leanna Collier, Elizibeth Bryant, Mitch Messier, and Tyler Harris. Two FAST relay teams also grabbed second place. The 13-14 boys’ relay team consisted of Bella H. Varga, Jacob Thurston Wells, Levi Rensch and Jake O’Neill Gummel. The girls’ 15-18 200 free relay team consisted of Riley Yowell, Lexi Collier, Amy Navarro and Abby Ford.
