Eighteen swimmers from the VSY Marlins qualified to compete in the 2011 YMCA New England Championship in Boston from March 25-27. Head Coach Pat Callahan and Assistant Coach Megan Renzoni kept their swimmers focused on racing in a meet that included 2,059 swimmers from 86 YMCAs throughout New England. Their efforts came to fruition with the Marlins placing in the overall top 10 and achieving personal-best times in all age groups.

In the 8-and-under age group, Madison swimmer Daniel Chen placed third in the 25-yard backstroke (18.93), fourth in the 100-yard IM (1:31.91), and also finished the 25-yard butterfly with a best time (18.27). Kayla Mendonca placed second in the 100-yard IM (1:27.03), ninth in the 25-yard backstroke (18.82), and a personal best in the 25-yard butterfly (18.05). Also competing were Essex's Tory Rider in the 25-yard breaststroke (23.30) and Madison's Madeline Henderson with a best time (19.49) in the 25-yard backstroke.

For the 9-10-year-old age group, Taylor Gray of Old Lyme placed sixth in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:27.61) and also raced the 100-yard IM (1:22.07) and 50-yard breaststroke by achieving a best time (41.81). Chris Thomson of Old Saybrook placed eighth in the 100-yard butterfly (1:22.28) and swam his personal-best in the 50-yard fly event (36.40). Elizabeth Beckman of Ivoryton achieved personal-best times in the 100-yard (1:07.20) and in the 50-yard (31.35) freestyle. Claudia Mergy raced her personal-best in the 50-yard breaststroke (41.84).

Swimming in the 11-12-year-old age group, Peter Fuchs of Old Lyme placed second in the 50-yard (32.34) and third in the 100-yard (1:11.77) breaststroke events and also raced the 50-yard freestyle (28.72). Mike Healey of Madison placed seventh in the 200 IM (2:29.80) and had best times in both the 50-yard butterfly (31.39) and 200-yard freestyle (2:13.28).

14-year-old Jessica Lee of Old Lyme raced into third place in the 50-yard freestyle (25.42) and competed in the 100-yard freestyle (58.03) and 100-yard fly (1:08.79). Michael Iranpour of Guilford placed seventh in both the 50-yard freestyle (24.32) and 100-yard backstroke (1:01.37) and ninth in the 100-yard freestyle (53.50). Old Saybrook swimmer Nick Husted swam his best time in the 200-yard freestyle (2:02.96) and Jillian Rastinejad raced the 100-yard backstroke, taking more than a second off her previous best time (1:08.23).

All four swimmers in the 15-18-year-old age group achieved 100-percent best times in all races, an accomplishment with which they and coaches Callahan and Renzoni were very proud. Erin-Katherine Daly of Ivoryton placed seventh in the 100-yard backstroke (1:02.81) and raced a personal best in the 50-yard freestyle (26.40). Graduating senior Amelia Haney of Essex swam best times in the 50-yard freestyle (27.33) and 100-yard butterfly (1:05.18), while Old Saybrook's Alexis Henry placed 10th in the 200-yard freestyle (2:03.74) and raced to her best in the 100-yard (56.96) and 50-yard (26.02) freestyle events. Caius Mergy of Old Lyme set his new best time in the 100-yard breaststroke (1:07.30).

The New England YMCA Championships is the largest swim meet held in New England and was held at New England's largest swimming facility, Blodgett Pool at Harvard University. According to Richard Whitworth, the gentleman who has run this meet since 1976, the competition has been held every year since the early 1930s. The New England YMCA Championships not only showcases excellent individual swimming talent, but also the team sportsmanship that is characteristic of the YMCA and its core principles of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility for all. This championship has included several Olympians whose meet records still stand.

The Valley-Shore Y Marlins Swim Team is a co-educational program for swimmers between the ages of six and 18. Registration for the Long Course season is underway. Prospective team members are encouraged to be evaluated by a coach on April 12 or 13. For more information about the Marlins, visit the team website www.vsymarlins.org. Information courtesy of Carol Himsel Daly