Piranhas pull out wins at state meet in Sydney
<p>Genevieve Deschamps swims the backstroke during a meet in Plains. The Plains home meet earlier in the season was the first opportunity for some swimmers to race the competition.</p>
SYDNEY- The Plains Swim Team spent a good deal of time this season working on the fundamentals and getting the team used to what competition feels like. The team tirelessly practiced flip turns, starts and technique during a season that only lasts a few months giving swimmers little time to adapt and learn.
The work paid off for the Piranhas. Twenty-one swimmers went to the state meet in Sydney over the weekend. The team competed in the class B division for first time in recent memory said Head Coach Rachel Cremer.
Standout results came from several members of the girls squad including the 11 to 12 year old medley relay team of Grace Alexander, Jacelynn DuBois, Kendra Newman and Natalee Deschamps taking third place. Danika Whitcomb also had a strong meet finishing fourth in the 100-meter backstroke
Alexander had a solid performance in her individual events during the competition. She took home third place in both the 100-meter freestyle and 100-meter backstroke.
Kendra Newman continued dominating in the pool during the state meet for the Piranhas. Newman was the high point winner for the team taking home the trophy for that accomplishment in the girls nine to ten year old category.
In her individual events, Newman won the State Champion title in the 50-meter freestyle and the 50-meter butterfly also taking second in the 50-meter breaststroke. Her time in the 50-meter butterfly broke the pool record and was only two-tenths of a second from breaking the state federation record.
As another season came to an end for the Plains Swim Team, first year Piranhas coach Cremer said the team had a great state meet and it was a valuable learning experience for younger swimmers.
“We saw some fantastic competition in Sydney,” said Cremer. “We placed fifth in the class B division. It was exciting to see our swimmers compete at the state level.”
Cremer said the dedication and good-sportsmanship demonstrated by the team throughout the season never ceased to impress her and assistant coach Jake Cremer.
“The team has worked hard this season,” said Cremer. “All of our swimmers saw times drop. We are looking forward to what next summer will bring.”
The Plains Piranhas placed fifth overall at the state meet in the class B division.
Results: girls 11-12 200-meter medley relay fourth place; boys 13-14 200-meter freestyle relay sixth place; girls 9-10 100-meter IM Makiya Dubois ninth place; girls 11-12 200-meter IM Jacelynn Dubois tenth place; girls 9-10 50-meter freestyle Kendra Newman first place; girls 11-12 50-meter freestyle Grace Alexander seventh place; girls 13-14 50-meter freestyle Danika Whitcomb tenth place; boys 8 and under 25-meter breaststroke Matthew Daems-Woods eighth place; girls 9-10 50-meter breaststroke Kendra Newman second place; girls 9-10 100-meter freestyle Makiya Dubois ninth place; girls 11-12 100-meter freestyle Grace Alexander third place; girls 13-14 100-meter freestyle Danika Whitcomb tenth place; girls 11-12 50-meter backstroke Grace Alexander third place; girls 13-14 100-meter backstroke Danika Whitcomb fourth place; girls 8 and under 25-meter butterfly Genevieve Deschamps; girls 9-10 50-meter butterfly Kendra Newman first place; girls 9-10 50-meter butterfly Makiya Dubois eighth place; girls 200-meter medley relay third place; boys 13-14 200-meter medley relay seventh place.