Contributed by Karen Miller
The Sharks of the Lake Monticello Swim Team (LMST) gave a strong showing in their second home meet of the season July 2. Despite their loss to the Hollymead Hammerheads, LMST was decked out in red, white and blue and ready to compete. The final score was close, and the Sharks brought home several first place ribbons and many time improvements during their meet against the Hammerheads.
LMST kicked off the night with the girls’ 11-12 200-meter medley relay team, bringing home the first win of the night. Abbie Ford, Julia Tomaras, Emily Farist and Brenna Rea, all 12, fought hard to win that blue ribbon.
Soon after the relays, LMST was able to pick up some points during the freestyle events, taking five first-place victories in those races. Those taking top honors were Mateo Ahmad-Guzman, 6, Gabriella Gray, 7, Cole Gustafson, 12, Luke Gustafson, 16, and Abigayle Harlow, 15.
Allyson Lounsbury, 14, and Harlow took first place in the 50-meter breaststroke, earning more points for LMST. The meet continued with backstroke events, in which LMST swimmers took top honors in four of the age categories. Those swimmers were Achmad-Guzman, Gray, Farist, and Nathaniel Smith, 15.
The swimmers, parents and spectators continued to brave the heat and humidity while watching Landon Kovarik and Lila Kate Robinson, both 8, shave seconds off their best times and win the 8 and under 25-meter butterfly events. Cole Gustafson also took top honors and set his personal time at 38.94 seconds for the 50-meter b
Head Coach Carly Csapo looks on as the girls’ relay team races.
utterfly, while Lounsbury, in the girls’ butterfly event, shaved a small amount of time off her seed time and took first place with a time of 32.10 seconds. Harlow followed suit and finished first in her butterfly event with a finals time of 31.40 seconds, which was a time improvement of 1.23 seconds. Gustafson, Lounsbury, and Harlow earned gold times in these butterfly events based on Jefferson Swim Leagues standards.
For swimmers, it’s not necessarily about winning the race, but seeing improvement of their personal best times. Many of the Sharks achieved that goal last week and the coaches are proud of their continued efforts. Head Coach Carly Csapo said, “I’m proud of our swimmers for continuing to improve. With championships only three weeks away, we are working on achieving the goals we set and want to keep up the team spirit.”
Speaking of team spirit, the Sharks took home another 100 spirit points for Jefferson Swim League’s week three spirit competition. The theme was “determination” and the winning photo won the social media competition with 33 online votes. LMST swimmer Maddie Gifford, 10, showed determination while swimming breaststroke in the meet against Farmington Country Club.
Coaches Carly Csapo, Sito Arroyo, Maria Arroyo and Fefe Nardone gear up for a home meet against Hollymead July 2.
The team has many enthusiastic and dedicated swimmers and coaches, many of whom participated in the Swim across the Lake event that took place during the July 4 festivities. The Sharks’ very own Csapo was the winner for the women’s division in her age group.
The Sharks took July 4 off to enjoy the holiday with family and friends, but were back in the pool full force July 5 to prepare to swim away against Key West Club Wednesday (July 11). LMST will host its final swim meet July 18 before the Sharks head into a week of practices to get ready for the Champs meet event July 27-28, held at the University of Virginia Aquatics Center.
